Gil's Arena - Gil's Arena Talks Team USA and AD's Massive Contract | Ft Thomas Bryant

Episode Date: August 8, 2023

Gil's Arena is BACK LIVE with a loaded lineup to start the week!!! Gilbert Arenas and the Gil's Arenas Crew discuss their weekend at the ZekeEnd with Isaiah Thomas, How Team USA can overcome their struggles in the FIBA World Cup and what Anthony Davis' MASSIVE Extension means for the Los Angeles Lakers Big Man. Sign up for Underdog Fantasy HERE with promo code GILSARENA and get a $100 first deposit match: https://play.underdogfantasy.com/p-gil's-arena Gil’s Arena premieres every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 11:30am PT / 2:30pm ET. Chapters Show Start 0:00:00 Intro 0:02:55 Brandon Jennings Most Influential Hooper From California 0:08:24 Team USA 0:14:00 Coach K Cut Gil From Team USA 0:27:39 Anthony Davis Extension 0:36:19 Thomas Bryant Joins The Show 0:57:21 Talking About "The Meme" 1:02:12 Hows It Feel To Be An NBA Champion 1:04:32 Why He Chose To Play For The Heat 1:08:57 What It's Like Playing With Jokic 1:13:58 Who Showed Thomas The Ropes 1:25:15 Thomas Bryant Welcome To The NBA Moment 1:29:39 Who's The Most Underrated Big in The NBA? 1:33:02 Advice From Thomas Bryant 1:41:12 Mostly Fans 1:43:56 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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It's true. I'm going to say it loud and other than who? Some swear by Nikes, others love Adidas. Rappers be rocking crowds, I'd rather rock arenas. You may have a nice shop, you're super set with the pill. Who made the zero famous? It's Yield. Homie fire, he wet.

Cold as the Pacific. Some dudes try to guard him. No need to be specific. He dazzled up the crowd as a wizard for years. Was 100% real. It's Yield. Yield. Eat him up, Yield.

Yield. Eat him up, Yield. Yield. Eat him up, Yield. Yield. Eat him up, Yield. Gills. Gills. Gills. Gills. Gills. Gills. Gills.

Gills. Gills. Gills. Gills. Gills. Gills. Gills. Gills.

Gills. Gills. Gills. Gills. Gills. Gills. Gills. Gills.

Gills. Gills. Gills. Gills. Gills. presented by Underdog Fantasy World. Woo! Woo! Woo! That was loud. That was loud. OK. That was loudest woo woo pop I've ever heard. I'm on four cups of coffee. I'm just letting y'all know. I'm like, you know, hey. You hopped up?

Why were you late? So why were you late then? Huh? Why were you late? Because I was drinking coffee. You was late because you were drinking coffee? Yeah. A mess.

A mess. Yeah. You wired today? First of all, who said I was late? I live here. I did. It's your show. I live here. I was just upstairs. A mess. You wired today? First of all, who said I was late? I live here. I did. It's your show. I live here. I was just upset.

You too. I was just upset. You too said you was late. They threw the zeros up, though. They threw the zeros up? Yeah. Welcome back to Gil's Arena, presenting my underdog fantasy with the living legend, Gilbert Arenas.

We got Brandon Jennings in here. They loving the fit. Thank you. I like that. Slow grind. Slow They loving the fit. Thank you. I like that. Slow grind. Slow grind. Slow grind.

Slow grind. Got my slow grind on. You said I got my what? You got your chunk lies on. Those are hard. Those are hard. Now those are hard. Fresh off doing work at the Curry Camp.

We see you hit about seven, eight, nine in a row. Yeah, man. He was cooking. Yeah. Half court, one dribble. One dribble. That's all you need. That's it.

That's it. All I need is one. We got Miko Grimes back in the arena. Welcome. Chad loving the outfit as well. Miko, I can't read a lot of the comments, though. Not appropriate. We back.

We back. The estrogen is back. The estrogen is back in the room. Why y'all laughing? That was the gist of the Chad commentary. Oh, well, it's Tuesday. I'm here. Okay.

So here's what we got cracking today. Team USA cooked in their first exhibition game in preparation for the World Cup, but is this roster strong enough to bring back gold? Lakers gave Anthony Davis the richest extension in history, but does AD deserve the BAG? That is bad for all those who can't spell. And NBA champion Thomas Bryant is pulling up to the arena to talk about his past and his future. But before we get into all that,

obviously the show is brought to you by Underdog Fantasy. If you have not done so already, download the app. Use promo code GILSARENA. That will match your first deposit up to $100. And we're doing our Mostly Fans, special Mostly Fans segment. If you were signed up to Underdog Fantasy, you drop a question in the chat. Use your Underdog username. They will, you drop a question in the chat. Use your

Underdog username. They will give you a $50 bonus right away. You get that 50 on top of whatever else you done put in there. $50 free.

All you got to do is ask a good question. Support the movement. And, if you want to watch this show and you can't watch it with us,

we're on Spotify, Apple, wherever you get your podcasts. I think we were number five or number six basketball podcast. No Chill and Guild're on Spotify, Apple, wherever you get your podcasts. I think we were number five or number six basketball podcast. No Chill and Gills Arena.

Oh, yeah, yeah. That's like number one. You know what I mean? That's like number one. You know what I mean? I got two slots. Good shit. That's number one.

We fresh off Seattle, came with the Zekin. You know, I want to give Isaiah Thomas some love real quick. What are y'all thoughts just pulling up to the Zekin eighth annual, first annual for G pulling up to the Zeke Inn,

eighth annual, first annual for Gills Arena in the building? Man, listen, that was a big weekend. Usually it's just a small gym. You're going to have players in, but the fact that it was two gyms going on, I mean, shit. I don't even know how many people was in that whole building. I mean, staff, he had to be pushing at least about 100 people in the staff.

You know, that's on a minimum just to show that it was like that function was A1. So you got to give it up to him. You know, that was an amazing event for real. So shout out to Isaiah Thomas, who we got to sit down with for a good 45, 50 minutes. We also got Nate Robinson pulled on Nate Robinson pulled up on us unexpectedly. But we got both those interviews coming very soon for you guys in the next week or so. Both great interviews, two players with a lot of unique perspective

on life and on the game. But let's talk about you, Brandon. Obviously, you was cooking over at Steph Camp. Yeah. Pulled up, played at the Zekin as well, had a little hamstring situation. Yeah, yeah. But you was letting it fly on Twitter. Yeah. Pulled up, played at the Zekin as well, had a little hamstring situation. Yeah, yeah. But you was letting it fly on Twitter.

You know, you was talking in your talk yesterday. Had to be let it be known where you stand in California hoops lore. So you said, I'm the most influential basketball player to ever come out of California. Oh. Talk your shit. Yeah, just remember that. Let's hear it. Just remember that.

Just remember that. So actually, a lot of people responded. And before we start, we got to just say most influential doesn't necessarily mean the best, right? We had a lot of great players that have come out. So I don't think that's what you were necessarily saying. I'm not saying I'm the greatest. But when you say most influential, why are you the most influential hooper to come out of California? I think my path.

And I've been that guy since sixth, seventh, eighth grade. And, you know, I can validate that point with guys like Slappy, Sean Brandon. Wayne Slappy? Yeah, Wayne Slappy. Sean Brandon, Rancho Park, legend. Poo Jetter, you know, Darrell Wright, just a lot of L.A. guys, Baron Davis, a lot of guys that's been around to see me since I was young. And then, you know, know my path leaving Dominguez

like who leave Dominguez to go to Oak Hill like that's not like something that's in the norm and then you know creating the opportunity for kids to get paid you know from high school on up so you know I just think my trail my path has always been like different and just unique at the same time like I said you have probably one of the first mixtapes to come out. So your career kind of was in line with the social media era, the YouTube and all that stuff. We had a lot of great players come through, but you can't find a lot of video on those dudes.

And you were one of the first dudes. We always talk about you in the McDonald's game, rocking the high top, just bringing it back. The Gumby? Yeah, the Gumby and the Jordan game. But yeah, I just thought, you know, I was just unique and I was just always different. I didn't just do the norm.

I always felt like I was taking a risk to try to be the first or to try to do something different. So when you talk about California basketball, we got the North, which, you know, more respect to them than Southern California. So you mean the entire state or SoCal or? No, the entire state. The whole state.

Everybody. Top to bottom. Yeah, top to bottom. All the way up to Humboldt. California, I think I just felt like California basketball was down for a period of time until I made the decision to go to Oak Hill and to put us on a broader stage in front of everybody. So I felt like I had to go to the East Coast to show that, you know, we ain't no punks and we ain't weak.

Ooh, he had to be the stoop dog. He had to go to New York and kick down the buildings. East Coast ain't got nothing. Okay, I see you. And then going to a powerhouse like Oak Hill, I felt, you know, 11th, 12th grade, averaging 32, Naismith Player of the Year, you know, mixtape year, all that. So I just felt like my influence for California guards, you know, out of everybody was just, I just felt like I'm the best.

So what other players out of California would you put on that list of most influential players? I mean, we've got guys like Jason Kidd, B.D., Paul Pierce, from this kind of modern generation, Harden, Westbrook, all those guys. Jason Kidd. You have to go Baron Davis. Me. Do the Ball brothers get some love?

Their dad does. The dad, yeah. LeVar Ball. The dad does, but the kids for sure. But the dad did a lot, you know, for them. How about you, yourself, when you think about California Hoops lore? With the same swag? Who had that?

Like, Shea Cotton had that swag in high school. It was like Shea. See, I like guys like Wesley Stokes. Yeah. Oh, yeah, Wesley, yeah. Wesley has the long hair. He went to Missouri. Missouri. Yeah, Missouri. Yeah, yeah. Wesley has the long hair. He went to Missouri. Missouri.

Yeah, Missouri. Like his swag left him. He had that long purr. But I guess like when you talk about just the overall like game changer, you know, going straight from high school to overseas, that was different no matter how, you know, unless you just went straight out of high school. But what California kids went straight out of high school?

Darrell. Darrell, back then. Yeah. Darrell kind of burst onto the scene. Like, you know, he was known out here, but. He's a baseball guy. Yeah. Tyson.

Yeah, Tyson. I remember in, what was it, eighth grade, seventh grade, he said, don't send him no college letters. He's going straight pro. I'm like, damn. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. Tyson came on the scene. He's going straight pro. I'm like, damn. K. Tyson came on the scene. He had the bowl cut. He was coming from up north.

You know what I mean? He got a reliable barber after that, but I just remember seeing that dude. But when he first came, it was like, who's this big dude with a bowl cut just yamming on everybody? Then obviously as time progressed, you know, he leaked up, got the good barber. I see you all blue. We got to talk about Super Crip when they talk about most influential. When have you seen a college coach refer to somebody as Mr. Crip? You know, that the good bar. I see you all blue. We got to talk about Super Crip when they talk about most influential. When have you seen a college coach refer to somebody as Mr. Crip?

Like, you know, that was his name. Yeah, no, seriously. We didn't know his name was David Hamilton. It was just Super Crip. Like, oh, okay. And then at one point, he changed to Super Duper Crip, but, you know what I mean?

You guys give Frank Nitti any credit? Like, you guys saw he got a Jordan shoe? Like, he's never played in the NBA. Like, he's never played on that stage, and he has an actual shoe. I don't think I've ever heard of, yes, two different colorways so far that I've seen. That's hard. Never played in the NBA? That's hard.

That's real. Shout out to Frank Nitti. Another guy we could throw out there, too, Deshaun Stevenson. Your former teammate. He was running shit. He was running shit. Swag up north. Yeah, he was running. Stevenson, your former teammate. Yep. He was running shit. Yeah, he was running shit. He had swag up north. Yeah, he was running.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. He was running shit. He was running shit. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's our group. Yeah, yeah, he was running shit. We used to go play on Fresno. That shit used to be so terrible up there.

No disrespect to the city, but, you know. No, no, no. It was like a long line of motels. It is disrespect. I'm just saying, like, to make that, you know, you come from L.A., you got to go play in Fresno for that Memorial Day tournament. But he used to roll in the gym two, three deep around his arms. Just like, all right, let's do it.

Ray Young. Yeah, two-way Ray. Biggest Cavs in LA, California history. But yeah, he had the slam diary and all that good stuff. But, you know. Speaking of repping for the blue and the red and the white. After getting serviced in a scrimmage against the select team last week and then redeeming themselves this weekend after Steve Kerr moved Anthony Edwards

into the starting unit, Team USA got their first action Monday night showcase game against Puerto Rico. They looked pretty rusty in the first half. I think they was only up like seven, came back to smack Puerto Rico. After that, it started. You said came off. Wait, wait. He wasn't starting?

No. I think when they got smacked by that select team because we saw that break. You were in the chat talking about it. I'm not doing this. I'm not doing this. Go ahead, talk about it. We're not doing this.

We're not doing this. Speak for your Adidas brethren. You got nothing to say? Nothing nice. You have a great... Forget the shoot. Forget the shoot. We already know.

What makes you think, like, who on the team is better than him for him to even come off the bench? And why? Fuck the shoot.

Like, I understand the shoot companies. Like, I get it. But as a coach, stop. What was the reason? Like, was it like he came late? He got a shave? No, no. What was the reason? Was it like he came late?

He got a shave? No, no, nothing. He's not starting him. No, that's just what they do. What, are they trying to test him? Political. No, it's all politics of shoes. That's ghetto.

The best player on the team is an Adidas guy. It's a Nike sponsor thing. That's very... So all five guys are being Nike shoes on the court first. Yeah. So are they going to do that? They're going to try. They're going to try.

Then that select team busted that ass. You think they would do that to Steph? Steph hasn't even been on there, right? Yeah, but I think he's going to play in Paris. Wow. If we do that, what are we saying? What are we saying as the U.S.A.? You think they would do that? It's not the same thing as they always say. You think they as? Do that the same thing they always think they were bringing off the bench

Oh, yeah, they bring them off the bench because of a shoe it Wardell Kurt No, Steph Curry off the bench on the USA team. You know, I'm a LeBron guy. He will try No, they put John Moran in front No way I mean, let's just let's okay. Let's take let's take it out of basketball and say this is your company, right? This is your shoe brand. This is who you're promoting. Would you promote Steph, Under Armour, or Ja Morant Nike if you're Nike?

See, that's why I'm saying. But they run it. Because they run it? Yes. So, of course, I'm going to want mine, but we still need the best players. We're going to win. We're going to win no matter what. But Steph is good enough where that don't matter It's like playing a Donald's all-american game having to do rock Come off the bench would he come off the bench? Honestly, that would be disrespectful

Pocket that would be this but that's what we would deserve to lose but Like I hope we lose there. Yeah Yeah, I'm we lose then. Yeah. Like, I would hope we would lose. You'd be rooting for the Euros? If that happened? Yeah, I'm already leading that way. I hope it didn't be badly, like, real bad. Ours is just politics, so it don't really matter about the, like, we all say it's for our country. But it's not. It's not.

It's just for your shoe company. Yeah. But I think that, you know, USA Basketball should be, all shoe companies should be they should all have a hand like a transformer it should be a transform so you you you don't have this this good glomerate that just uses their their power to influence people like even from the beginning like you know when coach K had it I don't know how that was allowed right you remember he didn't want one-and-dones. No one-and-dones.

And then he gets the USA job, and then all of a sudden, every player he has is a one-and-done player because he gets to use that in recruiting. Hey, you know, I'm the USA coach. Hey, you come here. I'll make sure you are part of this team moving forward. That's a hell of a cheat code. Right. Like, basically play the game.

Yeah, you know, just come over here and you, you know, make sure you're on a tryout, so I'll make sure I look out for you. Like, there's no way, like, half of those Shane Battier on a USA tryout. Get the fuck out of here. I'm sorry. All his favorite players are on USA tryouts. Get this shit. This is stupid.

It makes sense, though. I mean, I would do it, too, if I'm a coach. But I'm just saying, you know, because it was against me. So, you know. You wouldn't try to go get the real dogs and try to change the narrative. You're still in control. I'm a college coach. The NBA politics don't have nothing to do with me.

So, I'm just trying to use my influence with this college program to keep my NBA, I mean, I'm going to use the NBA to keep my college program popping. Let's not forget America is not really a country. We're a corporation. Everything here is about money. Everything from our health to our safety to politics, everything is about money.

So it kind of lines up if we're keeping it real. So we got to go back to last week. We had Trey Young. You took a little heat, Gil. Who? Who took heat? They was coming for you. They was coming for you.

They came for you. Who? Them checks. Who? Them checks. When? But you ruffled some feathers just talking about the stranglehold that shoe brand, you know, other brand, as you said, sponsored, had on

Team USA. So let's just take a listen to that, and then we'll get back to you. You see that list, man? They got, man, a little sorry-ass group. Like, I'm like, listen, I'm happy for the people who make it, right? It's cool. Like, you know, it's cool for some of the guys who got there that I don't know, right? Some of them

probably don't even start on their team. I don't know. I don't want to look at it. Because's embarrassing sometimes where like you have star player who's really stars that do want to participate and you just automatically just say yeah he's not going to fit our style how the fuck you know if he's going to fit the style or not you didn't get a man a chance or you don't even give up like there's there's a reason there's a tryout invite us all and let us show you that we can adapt we're like we didn't get to this level because we didn't adapt we adapted very well so don't judge me how i'm playing on my team like my team this is how i'm playing let me show you what i can do around other players just give me the shot but it shouldn't be so crooked

it's that sorry ass other brand brand. You know that other brand? The other man is... It's that other brand, man. They be doing too motherfucking much. Gil don't remember when he talk shit. No, yeah, we forget very... But you talked about the other brand, Gris. So let me just break down this...

I was correct. Anthony Edwards is the best player that's coming off the bench because he got on Adidas. But the current roster has eight Nike players, seven Nike and one Jordan brand, two Adidas players, and Walker Kessler. One sneaker. Walker Kessler.

Come on, Gibbs. The great white hope. Oh, I don't know. The latest late nerd. No, I'm just kidding. One sneaker free agent of Brandon Ingram. Sure, he's going to be Nike. The young goat, Austin Reeves, repping Rigg-a-roo-roo-roo-roo-roo.

Rigg-a-roo-roo-roo-roo-roo. All right. So the starting five for USA versus Puerto Rico was Jalen Brunson, Nike, Ann Edwards, Ingram, Mikael Bridges, and Jaron Jackson. So that's all Nike, right? Three out of five. Say it again. Jalen Brunson.

Nike. Ann Edwards. Okay. Ingram's a free agent, but he wears Jordans. I know. Mikael Bridges and Jaron Jackson. So they had all Nike until they moved Edwards. Okay.

Let's stop. Okay. Our research wants you to know that Walker Kester was a 2023 skills competition winner. Oh, he won a skills one? Nigga has skills. Oh, so he drew and threw the ball and got it. How much he average this year?

Fuck. How much he average? You know. I'm just wondering. He was all-star? Yo. Was he all-NBA? Yo, Gil's hilarious. I'm just saying. Was he All-NBA? Yeah, Gil's hilarious. I'm just saying, was he All-NBA?

All-Rookie, Gil. Oh, we got a rookie. The future. Great team. All-Rookie. But just back to that point. So how much are you really saying that shoe politics plays in the construction of that Team USA roster? A lot.

If Dame and Steph ain't starting for the Olympic team in 2024, then... So we're saying, okay, this list, right? We can say as a group, this is probably what? F? F list compared to what we have? Damn, girl. I can see mine is. They ain't got to go to summer school. No, go ahead.

You said it's a C minus? The roster? I wouldn't. This roster's a C minus. Compared to an Olympic roster? I will say F because it's like you said. Everybody got there for a reason. Everybody has the right skills. Okay, here's a C-? The roster? I wouldn't. This roster's a C-. Compared to an Olympic roster? Because it's like you said, everybody got there for a reason. Everybody has a lot of skills. Okay, here's a D.

Okay. Here's a D. I have. You still get units. Liz, compared to all the players in the NBA that you can put together? I mean, that is a – that list is nasty. That list got to go to summer school? They're still in the NBA.

They don't even get four units? I mean, when we're talking about C, we're talking about like Jimmy Butler, Brown. That would be considered a C group. You think Jalen Brown is a C group? That would be considered in a C group to talent? I mean, with that group, though,

I mean, because who really is the superstar? Like, who's the superstar? I mean, like Booker would be what, B? Yeah, if you get a Booker. Zion Williams, that's the B group. John Morant, that's the B group. So this is an F group compared to what we have. No one's an F is all I'm saying.

They're steps to success, Gil. What I'm saying is when you're grading, when we want to say, all right, pick the best 12, right? And then the second 12, the third 12, C, D, this would be considered. This is the fifth 12? Just because the only reason that we. This is the fifth 12? Who? This is the fifth 12.

This is the fifth 12. Okay. Only Anthony Edwards would be out of this group. Only Anthony Edwards would be put into the B or C group. Most likely B. I just don't like calling any of them. I hear you.

What about Austin Reeves? How many all-stars is on that team? Yeah, that's a good question. You remember there's 24 all-stars. 17 of them are American. Right?

How many all-stars on that team? Anthony Edwards? 10. J.J.J. So just two. But team game, good. That means nothing.

That factor in yours, Harper. That's nasty. You're all so ready. Man, you know, I'm telling you, we in trouble. J.J.J. We in trouble. What 12 would he make? Would he not make that first 12?

Defense player of the year? Come on, man. Unbun your hat a little bit, man. This is the real thing. As a center? He wouldn't make that roster. A? Defensive player of the year this past season would not make that 12-man roster.

We don't have bigs. Who else are you going to put? We'll just go small. Anthony Davis will be... Let's just go small. I'm not have bigs. No. Who else you going to put? We'll just go small. Anthony Davis. Let's just go small. I'm not sticking him up. AD? Yeah, he has no use.

He has no use. AD Bam? Right, we'll have AD Bam? He better than AD and Bam? You putting JJJ over Bam? Or Bam over JJJ? I'm asking you, Gil. This is your show.

I'm asking questions. You got to go. Come on, man. All that crippin'. Come on, man. All that crippin', Gil. Come on, man. Just so I got to follow it up. Do you believe Team USA will take gold in the World Cup?

Currently ranked number two behind Spain. Ricky Rubio tapped out for some mental health issues. I don't know how much that'll help or hurt the Spain roster. But do you think this squad will take over? No, because he's calling the F, clearly. I mean, I'm going to be honest. I don't even think nobody cares. I don't know.

I don't even think nobody really cares if we win or lose. I mean, they're going to win because it's American still. The F American team's going to beat everybody else's A team. That was the point of the argument of... Okay. Is that what you really feel? Say it loud. I'm curious.

I'm curious to see. I think, look, they smashed... What was the last A team that we actually had together? The only A team that the U.S. ever put together or tried to put together was the 92 team. And then Redemption. 08. That wasn't...

08. There's guys on that team you'd be like, you don't belong. Okay. Right? You can find three or four players that like, no.

Christian Laitner. Like, with the 92 team, you got Christian Laitner, you got Magic, and you got Larry Bird that should have been there. Yeah, those three for sure. Okay.

But for the nostalgia. Like, you would have had... But you had to have Magic. But I know you're supposed to have Magic and Bird. But, you know, by those years they wasn't who they were.

Right? Larry Bird, Back was gone. Yeah. Right? Magic was... Yeah. But if we would have had

Shaquille O'Neal, Dominique, and Zeke, that's a whole different... Yeah. That probably would be the best team that ever... So you think

Isaiah Thomas should be... Because, you know, let it be known. You think Isaiah Thomas should have been on that 90 team? Hell yeah. Over Magic at that point in time? Yeah. Okay. See, Isaiah, we rock with you.

Let it be known. Some stuff is just facts. Okay. But just in terms of... Who do you think is going to win? Are we going to win the gold? What's up? Yeah, I think we're going to win the gold.

Okay. But do we care? Are you going to watch? Is anyone here? Like, do we care with this team? Why What's up? Yeah, I think we're going to win the gold. Okay. But do we care? Are you going to watch? Like, do we care what this team? Why would I watch? I'm asleep. You're not going to watch Anthony Edwards, Gil? You're Adidas brethren?

I'm going to be asleep like the rest of America. No. When do they come on? Like, 3, 4 in the morning? I'm not a drug dealer. I got my belly full. Like, what am I doing? Like, come on, let's be honest.

I'm sleeping. So we talk about this World Cup team. We got to talk about the 06 World Cup team. Obviously, you tried out for that team. You still have a lingering beef with Coach K. We seen him at the win. We was ready to pull up on him, Gil. You didn't get to work.

I was about to get out and just swing on him just a little bit. Just a little bit swing. What happened? He didn't make the team. Whoa. Oh, they cut you? Cap. Don't try that. So what really happened? What happened? He didn't make the team. Whoa. Oh, they cut you? Cap. Don't try that.

So what really happened? What happened? Set the record straight. All right. So what happened was I gave him a call. It was Fourth of July. I gave him a call basically saying, you know, I'm just happy to be on this team and whatever I can do, you know,

defense, you know, whatever you need me to do, come off the bench, whatever, right? I'm all open. I don't, you know, this is a big thing. No ego. Yeah, coming in there. So during that tryout, you know, I'm taking charges. I'm doing everything. Unfortunately, they put me on a team that needed just me, right?

You know, my team was I had Kirk Heinrich, Bruce Bowen, Antoine Jamison, Brad Miller. So I might have had Chris Bosh, don't think I did. But I didn't have no offensive players, so they just gave me the ball the whole time for me to just run amok. And I was carrying, boy. To me, it was like, I'm playing against the best starting five that you can ever put against me, and I get to really test my skill. That's how I looked at it.

But I wasn't playing in the games. And for ego, I could have really like, hey, hold on. There's only three of us that's two-time All-Stars, two-time All-NBA players on here, and I want one of me, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron. That's it. So, you know, for me to say, yo, hey, I should be starting, I could have did that, but I just played my game. And I remember we're at the Army.

We're at the Army base. It was hot. Got on a little Army fatigue, but I'm jumping out the gym. Like, I felt like, yo. Like, I don't know if it was the outfit or the heat, but I was there like, yo. Like, yo. And I'm doing everything for them.

I'm the guy that they're using to talk to, like, the wounded soldiers who couldn't. Like, I'm that guy. Oh, yeah, it's about to go down right now. You should stand up and clap. Like, I'm doing all that. And I pulled my groin, and I thought it was the same, like I didn't want that same lingering injury I had my first year in Washington. So I went to Colangelo and said, hey man,

I pulled my groin. I tweeted, I don't know how long this is going to be lingering. So I don't want to hold up a spot for someone that's trying to make this team. Right. And he hurt my feelings with his answer. And he said, oh, no, you know, you was on a bubble anyway, so if you got to go home, you know, you got to go. Oy, oy. I'm over here like, bubble? And I had to run the roster on my team.

Like, wait, hold on. Hold on. Bubble. We got Kirk Hyatt. We got Brad Miller. We got Bruce Boyd. We got Shane Battier. The fuck are you talking about, Bubble?

So all I heard is he said I was on a bubble, and I was like, I'm gone. Fuck this team, right? And then I went in there and said, yo, 50? I'm going 50. If I can top 70, I'm just throwing out numbers, goddammit, because it's on. Right? That was the shortest flight from China I have ever had in my life. It's like I got on and landed.

My brain was just on running scenarios and plays. Like, I'm going to do this one. Like, oh, my God. Like, I'm just running scenarios. So when I landed, when I landed, I was on Tupac mode. I remember me and Dave did an article and I said and I said in the article and y'all can anyone can ask Dave I said yo the way the lineup the way the lineup is they they're not gonna win gold and I said because you have all of our slashers all of

our slashers and bucket getters are in the starting lineup and all the shooters are coming off the bench. There's not a balance on this team. Joe Johnson, they're all on the bench and you have Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, Mello was the only guy who spread the floor. Bron,

Dwight, it's too crowded. And I said it and then right before the game, I said, just take that part out. I said it, and then like, right before the game, I said, just take that part out. I don't want to be that guy. And then he hit me and said, damn, he was right. They lost. So he didn't air that part? No, he didn't put it out. That's what I'm saying.

If you ask him, he gonna confirm. Damien Manning, I'm gonna hit him up. So you basically, you quit before they cut you. Yeah. You dumped them before they could dump you? On the bubble, it's crazy. It was in a condom, clearly, based on the way it looks. You tell me I'm on a bubble, then you cut me.

You're basically saying, yeah. So let me go home and rehab. And to be honest, it seemed like when I landed, I was fine. It was all healed, everything was fine. I went straight to the chair like, I don't even remember why I left. That's how angry I was. I don't even remember

how I left. Like, okay. And what happened the next season? Everybody got it? Huh? Everybody got it the next season?

Yeah, that was demon time. Yeah. That was the demon. That was that year when I came back and I was on demon time. And I think that, you know,

me going in there, remember, I missed the free throws with LeBron and James. So I don't know what the perception of me was, but during that camp, during that trials and stuff, I was doing everything. Like defensively, I was, like if y'all go back and watch the Brazil game, D-Wade got hit in the mouth.

He had to come out to put me in. I'm picking up, you know, full court. So what do you think it was? Stole the ball from Barbosa. Got the offensive rebound. And that turned the game over and we ended up winning. What do you think it was? Adidas. So it was Adidas then?

The A to Z-Ros? Yeah, it was only me. And it was only me and Dwight on that team. That's what I said. There was a picture where Coach K has his foot in front of Dwight's shoe on that picture. We are ghetto here in Americaica right and i remember after that i fired my agent you know may rest in peace dan fagan because i got i got rumored no i got i got respectfully i heard that um

him and mike tony him and dan tony and that's why I went at Dan Tony, because what I heard was him and Dan Tony was having issues with negotiations with Stoudemire and The Matrix. Right? And it was in the middle of negotiations, and it was like, oh, it was using me as a... Leverage. Leverage.

All right, so that's what you want to do? All right, then your player ain't going to play. So I was like, I can burn my own fucking bridges. What do I need you to do that for? So I fired him right after that. So your two games versus Phoenix that next season, 54 with a W and 31 with an L. 42 and a half. You need a 54.

Reasonable. I'll say pretty good. I remember that 54 game. Oh, I remember that. I remember that 54 game. When people ask me, was that my best game? Like, when people say the 60s best game, I said, no, the 54 is because everything I said, the lead up to that game.

And then during the game, or during warmups, my, Dan Tony, they was on a 16 game winning streak. Dan Tony, it was the hottest team, number one team in the NBA. And Dan Tony said, you're gonna need more than 50 points to beat us. And it says, well, then I'm gonna score more than 50 to beat y'all.

50-fold? What did he say after the game? I don't know, man. It's 54. That's on our remember guys. That's some hostile shit. Oh, I was on red, man. That was some hostile shit.

I was on red. He probably hit you with a hard R after the game. And then Blazers, Blazers. Not the hard R. The reason I felt them Blazers because I didn't have that saying. I said Blazers because, you know. Yeah, I'm not going to read the Blazers because I didn't have that saying. I said Blazers because, you know. I'm not going to read the Blazers test. Coach was there, right?

But I didn't have that smoke. So when I went into the game, I wasn't on that mode. Do you want to hear what you did in those two games? Or just the one there because that was the first game. It was trash. Yeah, so the first game, trash. You had nine. And then the next game, you had 19.

Reasonable. Yeah, it was trash. Yeah, so the first game, trash, you had nine. And then the next game, you had 19. Reasonable. Yeah, it was trash. And then I remember, like, it was Skip Bayless, because I airballed the game winner. Like, trying to do a float. I didn't do a float. I was trying to do a float. And then I remember Skip Bayless then was talking trash about,

oh, you say you're going to score 50, and you only had nine, blah, blah, blah. And then we're in Seattle. Oh, they got all that smoke. 42, game winner, put my jersey in the middle of the crowd. That was the very next day. I got something for y'all. Y'all ain't going to just be playing with my name like that. Y'all ain't going to play with the name like this.

Well, let's keep it moving. Let's talk about somebody else who doesn't like their name played with, Anthony Davis. Lakers dropped a bag on AD. Three-year maximum contract extension worth $186 million. Deal includes a player option for the 2027-2028 season. So AD now owns the richest

annual contract extension in NBA history with an average of $62 million. Do we have the smoke thing anymore? You still have it? Can you get some smoke? Rich Paul, generational. Rich Paul's are getting bags.

Yeah. It's a black man, Gil, in America. But we got Miko. We got you here, too. You know, one of our most successful social videos. You know, I was talking about AD. You had a nickname for him. Well, I mean, to be honest, like, what else could they do?

There's nobody else they could go get that, you know, that would matter, that would at least get the fans, the crowd, everybody hyped. He's not a terrible player. He's just not there all the time. You know, when he does show up, he looks like the man that we need to get a championship. But it's just props to him for the money. I like all black men getting money.

I don't care how sorry you are. Black bags matter. Black bags matter. And so I'm just hoping, I'm going to be like Bubba Dub and say he better get a ring because I don't feel like he's shown me that he's going to show up the whole game. I'm just going to be happy for him getting his money. And hopefully this season we get him more than 42 games.

So did the Lakers make the right decision given AD the richest three-year extension ever? Like she said, there's no, you had to. What are you going to do? Right? There's, I mean, there's there's were you gonna let him walk right you're gonna let him walk so you know it's you know there's just you know he was in a situation where he capitalized on it and you know there's nothing we can say about it you know i don't

really care about you know if he wins the championship or not you still got the rest of the team that has to help. I think for the most part as an owner, like there's a thing that, listen, your contract that you get right now is off of what you did. I hate when people like think that I gave you the contract, what are you going to do for me? No, no, no, no. I won a championship for you. You're paying me for what I did. So I think sometimes when we look at these contracts

and we try to figure out why did a player get this, because of what he did. This is what he did. He won a championship. He did this, did that, and they're rewarding him. His next contract is going to be off of what he does starting today moving forward. That's how the contracts work. It's not I paid you $200.

What you going to do? Yeah. Motherfucker, I ain't going to do nothing. You already paid me, to be honest. Right, right, right. I don't have to do nothing. If I go out there and score 0-0-0-0 for the next four years,

the next three years, when I go to negotiate, that's going to tell you, well, you made this zero one-year deal. Goddamn it. That many. Yeah. So what's the next step

that AD needs to take with his game? You got the richest contract now in terms of an extension. I think just getting healthy. I think that's the next big three years for him. It's just staying healthy, playing more games. I think that's the biggest thing I want to see for him, just being healthy.

But it's ankle, right? Like, why do – I don't want to say this. Why do big, big players wear higher-heeled shoes? I think a lot of them, I think the cushion maybe? What do you mean? You know like most guards, our shoes are, our soles are

like flatter. Quick. Right? Taller guys, they have two and a half inches. Their shoes are like two and a half inches. So when they twist ankles, it's really going. Like our shoes are so low, we twist our ankle, there's So when they twist ankles, it's really going. Like our shoes are so low, we twist our ankle, there's nothing. But big guys, it's like they're always on platforms,

trying to be a little bit taller. And wonder why when you come down, damn near you're going to twist your ankle every single time. I feel like I hope Anthony Davis is hearing what everybody's saying about him missing a lot of games and get in the gym, not basketball gym, but the actual gym. Like he really needs to strengthen his entire body. Like you're playing 82 games already and then you're already not, he's like muscular but not strong.

Do you know what I mean? What? So you think Anthony Davis for the L, ain't in the gym every day? Yeah, yeah. I don't think so. Lifting weights? All of them guys are in the gym. Lifting weights?

Every day. I don't believe it. I got to see. I refuse to believe that that man. I think I could probably. You think he in the gym every day? Every day. I could probably deadlift just as much as him.

And I'm a girl. Cat. You're a girl. He looks weak. Wait, wait, wait. He looks flimsy. Wait, deadlift just as much as him. And I'm a girl. Cat. He looks weak. He looks flimsy. He looks like a noodle when he plays. Some people's bodies are like that. Like KD doesn't look strong.

He's not strong. But he lifts every day. No, he doesn't. He does not. I know what lifting weights every day looks like. I do it. For someone that's seven foot, you know what that looks like? Yeah, but I'm saying when you play, I know what day looks like. I do it. For someone that's seven foot, you know what that looks like? Yeah, but I'm saying when you play,

I know what it looks like. When you get hit, when you fall, when you get injured, you recover faster when you're in shape. When you're not, this is what happens. So you really think these high-level guys are not in the gym every day? I think that they're probably pulling

10-pound dumbbells, curls, stupid shit that's not important to your body. No, no, no, they're not doing that. No, no, they're not doing that. They're not doing that. What kind of strength training are you doing if you can't fall and get up and keep playing? Like, what's happening? Somebody's just don't gain weight.

I'm not talking about weight. I'm talking about strength. What is his name? Some bodies just don't gain weight. I'm not talking about weight. I'm talking about strength. All right. What is his name? JaVale McGee was in the weight room more than anybody trying to gain weight and get his body strong. He's just little. I'm not talking about weight. Strength isn't about weight.

Strength? It's not. Like flexibility, all that. That's what the model for the Lakers are. But how big do you think KD is? They're not the white house. We're talking about size. I'm not talking about size. I'm just talking about strength.

Yeah, I think KD's strong. Basketball's strong and looking strong. Like, I was wiry strong. I was skinny, but I'm running through everybody. That's a different type of... How much weight were you lifting back in your day? And how much do you think they do now? Let me hear how much weight you were lifting.

What is three plates on each side? 315. I can lift... Like, I was pound for pound one of the strongest on the team. Okay. But I was skinny. You didn't look weak, though, at all. I didn't have no definition in my muscle,

so I took my shirt off. When you played basketball... Took my shirt off. When you played basketball, you didn't fall over and was out for two or three months. That wasn't happening to you. So I feel like I would believe you were lifting weights. But I'm a guard, so I don't have that far to fall. And to Anthony Davis' point, though, didn't he have like a gross stretch?

He was a little dirty. Yeah, like, so it's like his. How many of you tired of him? When he looks like that. Give him that excuse. How long ago was that? Like, man, that's. You done grew into the shoes now.

Like, stop playing. Like, my son, right, 6'6 1⁄2", he can't do a push-up. Mm-hmm. Like, he's going to, like, the young one, he can do 30 in a row. So you're saying body type. It's just body type. That's why it's like that. Well, if I was, if I were a player that was constantly getting harassed about not getting

up, I would try to do something different then because whatever he's doing, it ain't working. We got a championship. He got a championship. He just, how much you get? $186 million. $186 million. Whoa, whoa.

I got nothing to say? It's working. Whatever he's doing, it's working. Think about it. Think about it. You're the owner, and you have to pay this guy. If this guy wasn't what we think he is, you don't lift wage, that would reflect his contract. No, it wouldn't. Yeah, it would.

No. You just said he got a championship. But what I'm saying is it reflected. If I know this guy is not a worker, right? If I know he doesn't work hard, he's lazy, I am not giving him... We act like front offices and owners know what real hoopers, like, what it is. Oh, no, they know

what's going on. I pay a whole... I pay a hundred people. I pay a hundred people to let me know what type of work ethic he had. So sometimes when we look at contracts, and you're like, well, he didn't get what he was supposed to because there's other things that factor besides these numbers. Maybe he partied too much. Maybe he drunk.

You're basically saying his body type is just paper mache, like I said. Yeah. Fine. So last three seasons, 2020, 2021, 80, played 36 games. 2021, 2022, 40 games. This past season, 54 out of the 82. Does that concern you at all? I didn't drop $186 million on it, so it don't concern me

at all. But you a Lakers fan, Gil. It don't concern me at all. It costs me nothing. But you a Lakers fan. I'm a fan. As a fan, does that concern you at all? And he said, I think going into last season, he wanted to try and play all 82 games. What does he need to be at?

His body type, he just can't. There's just some people, body type, they just can't do it. They're just physically not too tall, fall, big feet, little. Who knows? Yeah. Yeah. Which one? He did it in New Orleans?

Yeah, he was young. He was 22. Oh, y'all got a lot of it in New Orleans? Yeah, he was young. He was 22. Oh, y'all got a lot of excuses. He's only 30 now. Jesus Christ. Only 30 now. It's only gonna get worse then.

Only 30, right. 30 in this NBA? Then it's gonna get worse. All right, let's put him on HGHJ and let's get big then. Hey, let's not be complaining. Oh, that motherfucker jumping over the rim now. What are you taking? That's the solution.

I like that solution. Get him on the cream in the clear. Get him on that cream in the clear. I like that solution. Get him on the cream and the clear. Get him on that cream and the clear. I like that solution. Hey, man, stop talking down on our Lakers. You know what? If we win a championship in AD, doing what he doing, we win a championship, don't come to the parade.

Shut up. I'm not talking down on you. We don't want you at the parade. Paper mache don't want you at the parade. Of all the people that talk down on motherfuckers, I'm not talking down. I'm speaking the truth, just like you do all the time. Not in our Lakers.

Oh, God. I think he's going to have a good year. Have you ever heard him say anything bad about his Bucs? Never. You just talk shit about Austin Reeves. You call him an F. No, I said that team is an F. He's on it.

As a group, there's an F. He's on it. As a group, as an F. He's on it. So we got some Bs. The group project. We got two Bs. We got two Bs on that team. And they got to be put in the F group. He's moving the goalposts.

You got to 100% on your test. Fail, fail, fail. God damn it, you got to fail as a group. Fine. That's just how it works. We got a weightlifting expert in the building with us. It's Rashad McCann's day off, but he pulled up on us anyway.

They got you mic'd up. I'll see you mic'd up. It's Rashad that he here though. Oh, shut up. Weightlifting expert. Expert. He knew that 315, you said three plates. He answered that within two seconds.

I was in my head calculating like, ooh, 45, 45, 45. Oh yeah, because you know, I remember I said I can lift three plates and He answered that within two seconds. I was in my head calculating, like, oh, 45, 45, 45. Oh, yeah, because, you know, I remember I said I can lift three plates and then, you know. And I said I didn't lift. All right, there you go. But I'm not even going to do this. Like, I don't. Y'all on these machine weights, watch out. Rashad, do you think AD needs to lift more?

Absolutely. Thank you. That band workout shit don't work. No. But to Gilbert's point, you know, he's a different, he's a guard. It's a longer fall, all of that shit. But if you can play long minutes, long games in New Orleans, it can translate to the Lakers.

Ain't no difference. You just got to want it. That bubble shit don't count. Stop counting that fucking championship. Championship. Cut his mic off now. Championship. Cut his mic. Artist champion NBA history. Don't count. Stop counting that fucking championship. Championship. Cut his mic off now. Championship. Cut his mic.

Hardest chip in NBA history. Can't count that shit. Not debatable. So winning the hardest chip in NBA history doesn't count? Bubble? That's crazy as hell, right? No, that bubble count. That shit count.

How long ago was that? Three years. And it counts. In the heart of the pandemic, risky life and limb. I know, for real. To do the thing you love. The hardest thing to do. It's almost like he's still got COVID or something.

Sitting there in the same city. Do you still got COVID? He's in the protocol. He's in the protocol every three days. What you doing? Let's talk about Brian a little bit. Brian and AD, their contracts were matched up. I think Brian has a player option the following season.

What does this mean for Brian's future with the Lakers? You think he extends beyond, I think, what is it, 24, 25? Sure. Is he 39? He'll be 39 December, if I'm not wrong. Yeah. December 31st? Yeah, he's going gonna extend. Yeah.

It'll take less to get to my place. Shit. Oh, man. Oh. Stop with that taking. We ain't taking less for nobody. It was just a question. Kobe didn't take less for nobody.

Of course he didn't. Yeah, I think he stayed. Why am I taking less? Where else he gonna go? At this point, it's too much business out here in L.A. cracking. House, kids, we good. Son at USC, I'm going to say, yeah. We good.

Stand on it, he going to chill? Yeah. I hope so. And with this now extension, does this mean that AD is now the Lakers' successor? Is the expectation if LeBron does chunk them deuces in the near future, AD is going to leave this franchise in the post LeBron era I don't think AD got nothing to prove he ain't got nothing to prove

AD ain't got nothing to prove I'm paid I'm done I did what I was supposed to do alright but he's still playing now right I'm playing but I'm just like you know how old is AD if I can 30 by 33 he might be done No, I'm playing, but I'm just like, you know. How old is AD? If I can... 30. 30.

By 33, it might be done. Damn. You know what's funny? Like, LeBron James put so much pressure on people. The light is different. It just put so much pressure on people. The fact that he's 39 doing what he's doing makes 30 seem like you're a rookie. Mm.

Mm. 30 seem like you're a rookie. Now we have a glimpse of what 38 and 39 is capable of doing. Which means when players are looking like they're slowing down at 31, 32, I don't know how we accept that anymore. We got a guy

that's... 38 years old averaging 27. Steph 35, KD 34. It's just, it's a different, they still moving up. Back in the day, 30 was like, damn you old. Now 30 is like, shit, you're still in that prime. You're just hitting. So, you know, so. Cause how old is Russ? 34. It's about that. It's getting around that time.

Can't be. If you're 39. I'm just saying. But you're 39. When I see LeBron, I say when he's done, that last year is going to be like 21, 21, 6, and 5. I'm like, yeah, I'm good. I don't know if he'll ever let it get that.

I don't even think he's going to get that low. I think he's going to end it at 25. Yeah, I don't think so. I think he's going to end it at like 25. Even looking at Kobe, Kobe tore his Achilles at 35.

Before that, was still playing some high-level hoops. Brandon, you were just at Steph Curry camp, Steph 35. How is Steph looking? Does he look like he's lost

a step or he still got it? Still in shape. Still the best. Still shooting it from anywhere. That shit is wild. It's a machine now. I think it. Still in shape. Still the best. Still shooting it from anywhere. That shit is wild. It's a machine now. I think it's just a machine. Yeah.

Impressive. I bet Steph is going in like straight from the golf course to the gym. To the gym, to the Paramore concert. Like, yeah,

Steph out there. Hey, could you hook me up? What? Golf game with Steph. I got my first birdie. Oh. Could you hook me up? What? Golf game with Steph. I got my first birdie. What's up, Gil? Shut up, Gil.

Gil, why didn't you congratulate me on getting my first birdie? I congratulate you. Y'all just heard it for the first time? Congratulations. I put it in the group chat. Y'all got to stop. I don't listen to y'all in the group chat. I got better shit to do with my life than sit here in the group chat. So you post stuff in the group chat. Y'all got to stop. I don't listen to y'all in the group chat. I got better shit to do with my life than sit here in the group chat. So you post stuff in the group chat.

We support you. We posted everything. Like, now look at you. It just looks like y'all ain't got no friends. If y'all are sitting there with the group chat all goddamn day. I can't help it if you ain't got no friends. The group chat is your friend. Who?

Why you ain't got no friends. It ain't me in the group chat. They said the group chat until I got shit to say. Okay, fine. The group chat is a full-time job. Yeah, he's a dickhead. That's fine. Why you didn't congratulate me?

So I'm not good. Oh shit, Nico, congratulations. He said I'll mute the group chat until I got some shit to say. Obviously I go days without Commenting I don't know what the fuck y'all be saying But you don't read all the previous

But he always in there with some shit jump off I only go in there When I go in there I start from right there That's why half the time I'm lost And that's why I be telling you to shut up Cause you come in there like wait what happened We done had fucking a whole conversation You don't even scroll up to catch up

It looks like how many people in the group chat? 15 lonely people, god damn it. 14, because I don't pay attention. We are devoted servants of Gil's Arena. It's supposed to be we talking about, like, the show shit. It became conversation. Stop acting like it has never occurred off the bat. That's what happens in group chats, though.

That's normal. That's how I know you don't have friends. No, that's how you know I have friends. No, you don't. Because I'm not in a group chat talking to you motherfuckers the whole time. You don't have friends. You don't have friends. Everybody knows how the group chat goes.

Ain't no fun. You know, hey, congratulations. Migo had her first birdie in six months. Thank you. Of golf. One month Thursday. It'll be one month Thursday. Thank you.

She had a birdie. Made women proud. The chat is also offering their congratulations. Thank you. Thank you, chat. I appreciate y'all. As you know, some miserable people in there. Yes.

I like them, too. I like my haters. They follow me everywhere I go. Thank you very much. I love you guys. And how do we know it was your birdie? Did you film it from the beginning to the end? Yes, I did.

The whole thing? Yes, I did. And it's on my page. Go look at it. Okay. I heard Mika. So the first shot, second shot, and third. There was only two.

It was a par three. Oh, you was on a par three? Yes. Oh, damn, you got it. Ooh, okay. Yes. Tiger. Hit that bitch about 18 inches from the hole and put it in for a birdie.

There's no breakage, no cuts, no nothing? No, no. You can see it. I'm camera following. I had to use the buggy this time. There was no carts on this course, so I had to walk my shit to every fucking hole. And I'm filming myself walking to it. So you filmed yourself hitting the ball?

Yes. How? There's a thing called a phone, right? And you put it up, you prop it up, and you show yourself. So you propped it up. Propped it up. And then you hit it, grabbed the phone, walked all the way down there. Yes.

And then you propped it up again to hit it. Yes. Yes. So that video should be about, what, three minutes? It's one. It's a minute. No, I almost did like the whole nine holes. I just gave little clips in the last hole.

No, no, no, I'm talking about that birdie hole. Was it a full two minutes? No. How long was it? I don't know. 30 seconds? Maybe 30 seconds. It is, so that's impossible.

How? To set it up, hit play. Hit the ball, grab it, and then walk the par three in 30 seconds. I chopped the video up because I... Of course you did! Of course you chopped it up! Of course you chopped it up. That was the point of it.

You chopped and screwed. You chopped and screwed. So most likely what she did was miss... We already seen what she did. She probably missed four or five times. And then she videoed herself actually hitting the good one boom hit it and then she walked L Yeah, go. I'm up this my first time and then she she used the best one She probably like reset it the shit like 15 times until it got it. We already know that trick

We have a fade. We already know that the fade in October a fade in October. Just show up and I'm going to beat your ass this time. Show up. We have another contest? I asked you for a feedback. When? Did you say? When you beat me the first time. Uh-oh. I said, don't McKintz me like he did you. Not give you your feedback and you said you would. I said,

give me two months. Uh-oh. Who that? Is there people, Gil? I got something to tell you, Gil. I took the underdog credit card, you know, made some investments. No, I'm just kidding. We got a special guest pulling up to Gil's arena. Thomas Bryant in the building. What's up?

Hello. What's up, sir? How you doing? What's going on, bro? Good to see you. Hey, how you doing? What's going on, bro? Good to see you. Hey, how you doing? Nice to meet you. Nico.

Nice to meet you. Come on, pull up. So we were just talking about Anthony Davis, that extension. So obviously, you play for the Lakers. What'd you think about the team giving him the richest annual extension with that three-year $186 million deal? I thought it was something, man. You know, just playing alongside AD, seeing him up close and personal,

just seeing his unnatural talent for the game of basketball, and then seeing his work ethic on and off the court, just how his body maintenance, how he's always trying to make sure to stay on top of it and everything. And then also just he has a very high basketball IQ. I think he deserves it, man. And for what he had from his playoff run out there, I thought it and everything. And then also just, he has a very high basketball IQ. I think he deserves it, man. And for what he had from his playoff run

out there, I thought it was amazing. We were debating if he lifts or not. Thank you. Is he in there lifting? Is he what? Is he in there lifting weights?

Yeah, he lifts weights. Time and time. That didn't sound very confident. That didn't sound very confident. I don't say every day, but like, you don't see it.

But is he stronger than what he looks? Yes, he is. He's absolutely stronger than what he looks, for sure. Yeah, for sure. I'm about to say- One of the reasons they're saying that is because I question whether or not he actually lifts because when he falls down, he doesn't get up for three months. You started sharing with this man here, former team man.

And I love Anthony. He got to live here. I'm like, girl, I'm not trying to be disrespectful. I just want him to be better. I need more gains out of him. I love the contract, obviously. I love any black man getting money,

but I was just questioning, because I'm an athlete as well, and I know the kind of work I have to put in just to play sports for fun. Yeah, for sure. You know what I'm saying? So I was just like, damn, I'm wondering if he's working out

because I just didn't see it. But if you say it and you in the gym with him, I respect it. Absolutely. Absolutely. Shut up, Gil. I mean, we proved the point.

I'm not saying anything. It's just like a golf game. It's just golf. It's just golf. It's just golf. It's kind of like a golf game. I feel it. I feel it.

I can see it. So you were actually with the Lakers this season before getting traded to the Nuggets. Filled in nicely when AD went down. I think we're putting up 16-10. 16-10. So what was that like for you kind of stepping up to the plate? And how more or less frustrating was it after that fact

to see that role kind of diminish? I mean, for me, I knew what it was from before I signed on it. You know, they wanted to have a big, to maybe play alongside AD, put AD as a four, me at the five, or be the backup to him. I didn't have a problem with that. I felt like, for me, in my eyes, going there to the Lakers, I'm like, all right, I'm backing up who I feel is a future Hall of Famer. So I'm like, all right, cool.

You know, if that's what it has to be, it has to be that way. So for me, just being alongside those guys, seeing their work ethic, and then seeing that everybody wants to win around there, I was just like, I wrapped my head around just being more prepared and, you know, staying in the moment of what it is right then and there. You know, a lot of guys, you know, see guys in that caliber and just start to see the bright lights and everything.

I'm just like, oh my God, it's this guy. Like, you know, play alongside LeBron James and be in that Lakers jersey around the organization. But for me,

it was just like, all right, how can I stay prepared? All right, what do these guys need out of me in order for me to, you know,

put some production out there on the floor? And I just kept working and working and working day in and day out. And then luckily, the floor. And I just kept working and working and working day in and day out. And then luckily the opportunity came. I mean, it sucks that AD had to go down for that opportunity to come,

but I'm happy that I had the opportunity to play alongside these guys, especially LeBron James. I grew up watching him. So it's just like being able to share the court instead of playing against them now, it was like, that's pretty cool. Is that the most frustrating part? Like when you are prepared and then you get that chance and you shine and then when everybody gets back healthy they try to pretend what you did for these

last 10-15 games and mean nothing yeah you go back to like the the minutes that you like like hold on wait wait wait i done proved that I'm worth playing. And, you know, I don't know how you gonna, I know you can't like give, you know, go 80, you know, 38 minutes to 32. But you can find some minutes for me the fact that I'm averaging 16 to 10. Yeah.

You know, I also thought about, I also thought that way, but it was just like, you know, it's a business. You know, they look at AD as that person right there. They want him to be at the forefront and everything. You know, when I talked to Darvin, it was just like, you know. Was he honest? Yeah, he was honest.

Rob and Darvin were very honest with me. It was just like, look, we want AD at the five. AD's going to be playing these minutes, and, you know, for me, I just had to take it to the chin and just be like, you know what? All right, that's fine. Who met before? Fuck it. I don't know.

Just put me somewhere. Yeah, you know what I'm saying? I just wanted to play. That man's a minute. So you talk about playing with LeBron. Obviously, we've got to talk about the meme of the year. LeBron on that record-breaking bucket. You was wide-ass open.

Calling for the ball. You know what's crazy? We went through that same play in practice, and whenever LeBron sees me on that wing, he always tells me to cut. And if you have a smaller defender, post your ass up in the paint, bro. Get a big target.

Get an easy point. It's easier to score two points than that three-pointer, a contested three. So whenever he got that, I was running down. But every time since it got to 12 points, I'm trying to look up like, all right, we got 10 points, eight, six, all right, oh, shoot, we got turnover. All right, get back on defense, run back.

And then all I'm doing is just everything that they were telling me to do. And then when he shot it, I'm like, wait, everybody camera. Oh, shoot, that was a shot. Oh, oh, yeah. so it was just like it was kind of super surreal moment but it was just like at the same time we were still trying to play to win the game and everything and play the right way but it was just like I didn't I didn't really even recognize it till it actually happened and I was like oh shit they got me on a meme now

salty at all that he didn't pass you that rock because it would have been a better shot. Nah. I would give a fuck if you broke the record, bro. Give me the rock. If he would have missed it, I knew it was close. I didn't know it was two points, though. So I, for sure, would have passed it out. I was like, bro, this ain't my time.

We came here to see him. It's funny. People don't realize sometimes that that person's in the moment, right? Everyone else isn't. We at home. Unless you're on the bench. I mean, like the players that's on the court, you're not counting how many points he needs. The bench obviously knows, and the person himself knows.

But for the most part, when you look down, I think Russ took some shots. Somebody else took some shots. They're not really, you know, they're just playing. Yeah. some shots, somebody else took some shots, they're not really, you know, they're just playing. Yeah. Unless he comes out and says, yo, I need two more points, y'all. Then you're like, all right, all right. And then everybody do it.

Other than that, for the most part, usually when you're in the real time, you don't really understand what's going on. You're just doing what you do best. Yeah. That's exactly what I was doing. Just doing what I felt was best at that point. What they told me to do, what I felt was an advantage right there. And it was just like when it all came into play, I didn't even realize until after he made it, I was like, oh, shoot, that was a shot.

So it was cool. It was cool to be a part of that, too, just to see that and just to say like, oh, shoot, like we're somewhat a part of history. So let's move this thing forward. You won a chip with the Nuggets, first and foremost. How does it feel to be an NBA champion? How'd it feel to go back, smack the Lakers in the minimum amount of games required to advance to the finals, come back, do it on the airport?

Minimum. That's what we call it here. That's what we call it. The minimum. Some people call it other things. Shut up. No, we don't call that here. Out of respect for Gil Lekrisson,

but just what is it like for you now to be an NBA champion, to kind of see a dream you probably had as a kid come true? It's still kind of surreal to me. You know, I still can't really fathom it. And it's one thing that you always dream about, but it's like when you get into that opportunity, it's like, wow, you're really here with a team like that. You know, everyone on that Denver team was just so locked in, so together,

and it was just something special to see because we knew as soon as we got out of the first round, we felt like, all right, we got some confidence. We beat a really good, hostile team. When we got to Phoenix and we beat Phoenix, especially that last game on their home floor like that, our confidence was through the roof. And it wasn't no celebration whatsoever.

Everybody was just like, oh, yeah, we can do this. Yeah, we got one. We might got one. We might have one. We might have one. So everybody was so locked in into the Lakers right then and there. It was just like, yo. We didn't stand a chance. From your side, did the Lakers, were

they even a threat to you guys? Keep it real. I mean, they were a threat because, of course course you still have like you still can't bypass LeBron's greatness and AD's greatness but for us

we all had the confidence to just like okay they got two superstars but like we got a real good team ahead of us like we got a real great team

we all play together we got key pieces that you know really play well together and then Jamal's playing great Jokic is playing outstanding it's like okay we got a good vibe going so had key pieces that really played well together. And then Jamal's playing great. Jokic is playing outstanding.

It's like, okay, we got a good vibe going. So I think everybody was feeling it, but nobody really was really scared of us getting beat, to be honest. Nobody really felt like we were going to get beat. Of course they might steal a game or two or anything. We felt like we were, like, we felt like they were going to get a game or two, but, like, losing the series, we didn't feel like

we were going to lose. Damn. Then they didn't even get, not again. I didn't either. I didn't feel like you guys were going to lose the series either,

even as a fan, but shut up. I'm just saying. Shut up. Look at him jump now. He's a delusional player. Debatable. He's a delusional player.

He said debatable. You can't accept reality and understand when somebody's just better than you. Like, he's mad. Like, I'm a Laker fan, but I'm not stupid. Like, I'm not going to just go into it like, oh, yeah, we're about to beat the Knicks. Knowing damn well this roster they have. Like, come on. Just like he was delusional.

He was delusional thinking that the Heat was going to beat y'all, too. He was delusional. He said they was going to beat y'all. And we laughed at that too. But, you know, that's delusion. You know what I mean? Like, you have to keep it real. We got a game though, right? We didn't get swept.

No, I'm just... A game? I think we need to... I question Joe Laker loyalty. Oh, he finna kick... I think we got to question her Laker loyalty. Why? Because I'm not honest? So that means you sit on this couch knowing that we wasn't going to win.

You wasn't even delusional with us. No, I wasn't. I wasn't delusional with you. That's why I kept quiet. I didn't come at you. I don't care who we face. I'm delusional. I'm delusional at every game.

I don't care. That's Lakers fandom in a nutshell. They got five to me. We playing. No, we winning. Me as a fan, I can look at the game and tell which team is better on paper, and then you can take it off paper and say who has more heart and all that kind of stuff, and you come to a real naked decision in your head and say, they're better than us.

When Craig fought Debo, did he say, damn, Debo better? No, I'm going to grab this fucking brick. I'm going to grab this brick and I'm going to hit Debo's ass. One-on-one, yes. But I'm getting this brick. Oh, my God. But let's talk a little bit about, so you won the chip with the Nuggets. I talked to you before right after you won the championship.

You were uncertain what you were going to do for agency. Two-year deal with the Heat. Go over there. So why was that, do you feel like, the best option for you to go over to Miami Heat? For me, I thought the best option was just the Heat because of, you know, the personality of what they do. I prided myself on being the most conditioned big man when I'm out there. They prided themselves on having great-shaped people in their organization.

Taught from people that know how to play the game of basketball, want to work day in and day out. That's all I'm about. I'm always working. Before I even came here, I made sure I got my 2-0, you know, conditioning and weightlifting. And I didn't stop until I got every rep right until I wanted to, you know, until I felt like it was good enough.

You know, I don't stop until I feel like it was good enough. I'm going right back after I get done with this. So it's like the grind doesn't stop. But it's like they carry themselves on, you know, their heat culture of just, you know, taking things, holding yourself accountable, you know, taking responsibility for your actions, you know, on and off the court, being yourself

in the top shape of your life. A lot of guys are not in great shape. You know, some guys just have pure talent, but a lot of guys aren't in real, real game shape. Like, can you run up and down this court ten times in a row as fast as you can without stopping? Yeah.

Like, that's a real question you have to ask yourself, and that's why I prided myself on a lot. And then just being around the team, you know, a great organization, Eric Sposio, a great coach, Pat Riley, a great GM, owner and everything. So it's like, you know, they all came to me, and they wanted me and everything. So I felt like, you know, they all came to me and they wanted me and everything. So I felt like

it was a great decision. And don't forget, there's also opportunity there as well. Absolutely. You know what I mean? Like, number two,

that could be a number one. You know what I mean? Like, there's opportunity for you. God forbid anything happens with their starting big man or you taking his job. Anything.

You know what I'm saying? That's a great opportunity there for you. And I hope you love it. No I'm saying? That's a great opportunity there for you. No, it is. It's a great opportunity. Were you letting him know at all during the finals, like, look, I got the answer for y'all. I win the game.

I'm just saying. Like, you know what I mean? I see what y'all need. Definitely help fill that void. But have you been out there at all to work out and condition, do any of that type of stuff, talk to Coach Poe? I've been out there one time, talk to the players, get acquainted with the area and everything.

The humidity there is crazy. I'm still trying to get used to that. Man, it's hot out there. But I'll be out there more towards the end of the month, really getting it in with the coaches, in the gym nonstop, day in and day out, trying to get acquainted with the guys, you know, deal with the time change and everything. As of right now, it's just still training right now.

What are you on about, September 1st? Yeah. Where do you live now? I still live out here in LA. You're not a smart man. But you already know, everybody come out here for the summertime. You can't beat LA. You can't beat LA.

LA hoops summer. Well, I mean, looking for you, it'll be y'all winter during. No, it'll be y'all summer. We have summer in December. Yeah, summer in December. That's when it gets hot? That's when it's about 75 to 82.

That's the summer? That's crazy. That's not bad. That's our summer, yeah. So you got to see Jimmy Butler on the other side. What impressed you most about his game, and what are you excited about being able to play with him and the rest of that squad? He was a pure dog. Like, he just holds himself accountable.

He has the most confidence in himself and his teammates. Oh, God, no, no. Confident coffee. Confidence coffee. No, he does. You can't bypass what he's done throughout that whole playoff run. For them being in a playing game, winning both playing games to get to the NBA Finals. They lost one.

Oh, yeah. They did lose one. They only got there because Giannis was hurt. Look. Giannis don't get hurt game three, game five. He came back. Yeah, I mean. He was a shell of himself when he came back, but they won.

Can't take that from them. They won. Excuses, excuses. If Yonah don't go down. That beast or that dog? Well, first of all, the conversation was who had more confidence, Jimmy or Jokic. That was the original conversation.

That's more confidence, Jimmy or Jokic. Oh, yes. Who had the most confidence in the playoffs. They both had straight confidence out there. Like, you saw no glimpse of, like, Jimmy bowing his head or, like, looking scared or anything. He was just like, all right, cool. But Yoke was just straight killed.

Was a straight kill, just everything was just straight. He didn't want to react to literally anything until the game was over. So they were both so even-keeled throughout the whole time. Even when we were on the road and we won game three, we won game three,

Yoke and everybody else was still so even-keeled. Because they were just like, bro, they already stole one from us, dog. Like, if we come into their house, see what they did to Celtics, like, they won. These motherfuckers can play, bro. Stop taking these niggas for granted, bro.

Like, don't take these niggas for granted. I mean, we see Joker and his demeanor kind of on the court, obviously super laid back. Looked like he was more excited about winning the horse race back in Serbia than winning the chip. But does he turn up or ever yell at you guys? I mean, is there ever where he gets emotional or spirited? There was one time throughout the playoff

where he actually showed emotion. And we were all like, shoot, okay, yo, you're winning this. All right. Because I think we ran a play wrong and turned the ball over like two or three times in a row. He was just like, I don't fucking care about scoring. Just play the right fucking way. I think that was in a timeout, wasn't it? Yeah, it was in a row, he was just like, I don't fucking care about scoring. Just play the right fucking way. I think that was in a timeout, wasn't it?

Yeah, it was in a timeout. We're all just like, okay, all right, it's too locked in now. Also, the play was trying to go to him, and they just kept turning the ball over? Something like that, yeah. Yeah, he's a team player. Yeah, but he said he didn't care about scoring. Just run the play.

Just run the play. Yeah, crazy thing is he doesn't care about scoring. Dude is so passive. He wants to get people open. He wants to pass the play. Let's run the play. Yeah. Crazy thing is he doesn't care about scoring. Yeah, you can tell. Dude is so passive. Like, he wants to get people open. He wants to pass the ball. That's so hard. So it's like, it's easy as hell to play with him.

Yeah. Because he's just naturally get, like, he has a God-given talent for the game of basketball. But when you put him in a situation to where he, like, where he relishes at doing, it's a recipe for disaster for the other team. So what are things from just your experience playing with Joker that you'll be able to now take from your game and apply throughout the rest of your career? You know, I respect his work ethic. You know, just seeing everything that he does to a tee,

day in and day out, even in the little, you know, little music warm-ups that you do before the practice or games or anything like that, you know, the bands and all that. You know, you go through like two or three of them, and then you're like, all right, man, I'm cool. Like, I don't need no more of this. No, you're going through the whole thing from start to finish. He's going to be there right on time.

He's going to end on time. He's going to do everything, everything. He'll cut corners. Everything. He doesn't cut corners. He doesn't cut a corner at all. You would think he was a young rookie trying to make his way into the league, but he still holds that same accountability day in and day out.

I respect the hell out of it. That's who AD should be working out with, for real. That's like Rocky versus AD Apollo Creed in this situation. He's not giving them the secrets. What? Shots fired, man. Never fail. No, because he don't vote for AD.

AD, we on that grind, AD. If you can hit me, AD, man, you got to give your kids all 75. Show me. Show me. Give them 75. I don't care how you do it. I will break you. Ron, stand down.

Reeves, stand down. You know what I mean? Stand down. I don't give you. We don't got to win nothing, right? It can be 75 to 130 as long as AD got 75. We good. As long as he plays his 65 games.

We doing 65. Okay, we'll see. So you were McDonald's All-American projected top five pick in college, slipped to the second round in the draft after you came back for your sophomore year. How much did being a second-round pick motivate you to prove all the doubters wrong? It motivated me a lot. You know, from what people said, from me being a first-round pick and everything like that, and them saying, like, I should have left my first year.

I knew for a fact for myself I wasn't mature enough after my first year. Like, I was going into the league of just like this is gonna be my job now i wasn't ready for that i was so young still naive about life and everything and you know just going to college and everything just learning everything like that just learning about the game of basketball from coach kareem and everything and the importance of film work the day the days that you have to put in day in and day out of the work that you want. Like, you want to be there. All right, now you got to work hard. This isn't easy, bro.

And I learned that my first year in college. I just knew after that first year, like, this was a little bit too good to be true. Like, this shit isn't supposed to be feeling like this. Like, yeah, we won the Big Ten title and all that. Yeah, we won this and that. But I just knew for myself, I wasn't mature enough. Like, if I would have left after that first show, I would have been out of the league way before now.

And I just knew that. But you was outside. Nah, I wasn't even outside. It was just me, just me, just, I'm a realist. You know, I always keep it real for myself. It's always straight point forward. If I'm not accomplishing something, all right, let's figure out how to accomplish it. If I know I can do this, all right, let's do it.

But it's just me also looking at myself in the mirror just knowing, like, yo, are you actually ready to take this step forward? I knew after my freshman year I wasn't ready yet. So, you know, yeah, I was a second-round pick, but it just motivated me to be like, alright, I'm mature enough to handle this. Most people I know aren't mature enough to be like, oh, you're going to be a first round pick? Oh, yeah, yeah. The next thing you know, you just see your name dwindling down,

dwindling down, dwindling down. And then you finally get the call and you're like, alright, cool. Fuck it. I don't care if I'm not a first round pick. We're going to work because I know a lot of young niggas is not better than me. And I take that with pride, and I hold that to accountability to this day forth. During that process of the whole draft process, like how many workouts did you do?

I did like 20, 21 of them. Damn. How many other players did you get to go against? Not too many. A lot of them was Damn. How many other players did you get to go against? Not too many. A lot of them was ducking. Oh, we talked about that. And that was always my issue with the draft process. Like, you're judging me off of what I can do by myself.

Yeah. Right? Like, I don't know how hard I'm supposed to be going. Like, give me the people I'm supposed to be playing against and judging. So a lot of people are slipping to the second round because they don't have nobody. Like, I'm not trying to be a professional exerciser. I don't know what that means. Like, you know, I'm running around these cones and this is stupid, right?

You know what I mean? Like, game speed. Like, okay, put me in a game and I can give you that. In tryouts and workouts by myself, I don't know what game speed is. Exactly. What, I'm supposed to run as fast as possible and just shoot? Like, what is that supposed to look like, right? Right.

And I think they're missing a lot of talent on how it's designed because you're judging people off who's great at working out by themselves. Absolutely. That's what they're judging. We're not playing this game by ourselves. You want to see what I can do? Put the bodies in front of me. Exactly.

I can show you what I can do. He's supposed to be the number one scorer? Put him up. I got that. He's supposed to be the best defense? Let me show you what that looks like. Right? And they don't have that motto.

But do you think it's also because guys don't want to do that? Like the people that are already, like who wants to go, like imagine you're in the league, right?

And they call you in to come work out when he cook you. Like what happens to you? It happened before. You see what I'm saying? Your stock goes down. Your stock goes down.

But is this about like being drafted as high as possible? I'm talking about him. I'm talking about getting the players to come in and go after people.

There's agents. Like, you know, you're trying to stay away from certain players. Like, I would be, like, to be honest, if my agent ever told me when I was coming in,

yeah, we're going to keep you out of this workout because of, like, wait, you think he better than me? I know, I know. You think he better than me? What do you mean?

Like, I would be offended. What if he was? Throughout the whole draft process, I'm asking my agent, who's going to be at this workup? Who going to be here? Who going to be there? Who going to be here? Who going to be here?

Oh, yeah, he going to be there? All right, bet. I'm going at this nigga, bruh. I'm going at them and everything. Like, just to prove like, and you know, agents going to do that because it's like, nah, we're not going to let you match up with him. We're going to make sure you stay on the team. That's true.

Like as a general matter, like that's what I'm saying. If you're a team and you're drafting players, and you have this player and they heard this player's coming in and this player duck, like that player don't get a red flag for you? That should be a show, oh, he's scared of competition. Come on. Like that lets me know, oh, you don't get a red flag for you that should be sure oh he's scared of competition like come on like like that lets me know you don't want to compete like that should be flags like i would be if i'm a if i'm a uh a owner and i'm i'm a think of players that oh yeah this person

is going to be in in in a workout with you if you don't mind just so i can hear him say i'm good all right cool i knew you wasn't going to compete like that that's that gives me a reason to knock you off the list i want to hear player like i got the number two pick like yo i'm gonna put this person this person with you cool i've been waiting for him i don't even want to see the work i don't even want to see the workout now now i know you want want the smoke you're gonna be okay this is the guy i want i don't even have to see the workout now knowing i know mentally you are ready and prepared to just take on all challenges. Absolutely.

So, I mean, why do you feel like teams allow that, right? Obviously, it's agent-driven, right? If I want to protect my client, I'm not going to put them in those situations. But to your point now, if I'm the team and I'm about to invest millions of dollars into you. Exactly what I was talking about earlier. It's the only job that I know that doesn't look for the apex. It's not designed for the apex. Like, when you hear, like, Microsoft running them and they say, hey, you know, I got a million dollars for anybody who can hack my system, right?

That is a job offer. They want to see who's been working on their craft that they don't have. It's a job opportunity. So now all the best hackers in the world are coming to try to hack the system. To beat everybody else. The person who hacks their system obviously is getting the job. Right? So you're going to keep doing it every year just in case there's somebody out there that's developed a skill that you don't have and you're trying to put them into but you use that tool of you know

hack my system all of that that's just a job that's just a job uh opportunity that they're looking for they're looking for the apex of their their their craft same thing with the nba you need to put in system that brings out the apex. Like Jokic. The way the system is, you're not going to find him. Because you have him going one-on-one. Have y'all ever seen the videos of Luka working out? Yeah. Trash, right? You put him through these drills,

he don't know what the hell. They had him and Steph, and they were showing it. He over here, like, the red and blue, he's like, oh, uh-oh. Right, so if you had to drive him off of this, you'd be like, he doesn't know what he, the ball and hitting the wall. He don't know what that is because his body's not designed

to do this. He knows how to play basketball. His stuff is basketball, learning body, that these guys are programming, okay, every three seconds is going to count. You have that guy who's a test taker. Yeah. Like doctors.

Like doctor. Like we. Don't even do it. No, no, no. Don't even do it. We got to be. It was just something that, you know, a person who, you know, puts doctor in front of their name. Don't do it.

Don't do it. It just seems corny to me. We're not going to go. Gil, stay on. Stay focused. We've been packed up by enough people. We have enough people looking for us. We have enough people, too, like that.

We have a guest. We have a guest. You're right outside of your job, and you still use doctor to do your job. Gil, Gil. Seems a little corny to me. Gil, we have a guest. We have a guest. Let's stay focused.

No, no, no. My name is not Gil. It's NBA Gilbert Arena. It's NBA Gilbert Arena. You better use it. I can't stand him. Oh, my God. Come back up.

Correct, huh? He annoys me so much. So let's move beyond the draft process and just talk about making that transition to the NBA. Who were the guys that showed you what it means to be a pro? Really, I was young. I was with a bunch of young guys, but my two vets that really showed me were, like, Corey Brewer, Luau Day, and then just growing, you know, with, you know,

growing with guys like Julius Randle, Larry Nance, and then me, Kuz, Lonzo, and Jay Hart coming into the play and everything. So we all just learning the ropes right then and there. And we all a bunch of young guys, so it's like we all trying to, like, figure it out each other. And, you know, of course you got a few vets there, here and there, from coaches all the way down to players. For me, it was just like Corey Brewer and Luau Dang

because my lockers were next to them. So I was always talking to them and everything. I'm on the sidelines. I'm talking to them, seeing how they feel about the game. What do you guys see? They ask me, what do I see?

And it just helped my IQ just get bigger and, you know, more fast there, picking things up out there. So I put a lot of applause to, you know, having those two guys with me. I have a question for you.

What do you think the NBA can do to actually speed up that process of you learning and everything? Like you said you had those two vets, but there was really a bunch of young guys. What can they do with guys coming in now that you feel like can really help speed up the process of learning the game? I mean, for me, I'm not giving no leeway to the guys coming in now because none of these rookies got to do any type of rookie trade. Like, rookie duty is nothing, man.

And then, like, for a lot of guys, it was just like you had to go through the trials and tribulations to actually learn through stuff. You know, some of the guys that I know and guys that are coming up now, they don't listen. You know, hard-headed. You know, experience is their best teacher. I was the same way when I was younger. Experience was my best teacher.

I was hard-headed. You know, I had to learn the hard way. But for me, it's just like, I feel like you have to go through those trials and tribulations as a young guy and then going into the league. It's not, like, it's a grown man's league. NBA also stands for National Basketball Association

but no boys allowed. Yeah. Like, you gotta be a grown man about this stuff. They're paying you millions. Yeah, they're paying you

a million dollars. You're changing the aspect of your family's life, of your life and your family's life if you're blessed enough to do that. Like,

dude, you gotta take that with accountability. Like, think about that, bro. Nobody has to give you a million dollars. Like, think of a GM just saying like, here, I got to take that with accountability. Like, think about that, bro. Nobody has to give you a million dollars. Like, think of a GM just saying, like, here, I'm going to just give you a million dollars.

What, just like that? Nah, bro, you got to work for this. You got to show that you're worth for this, bro. You got to show you're worth that. So it's like you have to go through those trials and tribulations. I like them because, you know, it toughens you up. You learn to be a those trials and tribulations. I like them because it toughens you up. You learn to be a man in this game, and it helps you with the aspect of just playing basketball

and life in general. There's no handouts. So if you take the two groups, right, the group you came in with and these veteran groups, can you now see how some people's careers don't become what they're supposed to be yes absolutely absolutely i see it day in and day out just from their work ethic how they treat people how they hold themselves they don't hold themselves accountable they try and cut corners

day in and day out like it's just like that's just not how the game works you ain't gonna get blessed you want the game to bless you you got to put the work in, bro. So do you think that, do you think your career changes because LeBron James came and you got to see a whole other aspect of how things are done? Absolutely. Right? Yeah. I feel like when you're on a team with a superstar caliber player like that

or with a great vet that's a superstar caliber player, it changes your dynamic of how you see things. I mean, seeing you guys from before, watching you guys, I'm like, damn, those dudes really put the work in. So it's a whole aspect of difference, going from one organization to another, seeing how you see a LeBron James, you know going from one organization to another seeing how You see like a LeBron James how he holds himself accountable how he does his work day in and day out. It doesn't change Alright, you're like I bet I'm gonna take that. Alright, let's see if I can get better at this better at that Oh, yeah. Are he really not taking no days off? Oh, he really stand by that. Alright

Hey, shoot if he working I'm working man. I can work twice as hard as that. Let's go. Let's keep going. And that was just the thing of just getting better. And then you see improvements on it. It's like, it's almost like a drug. It's like, damn, I can't stop now. I just accomplished this. I didn't accomplish that like a month ago or anything like that. Why would I stop now?

So it's just like automatically of a slogan, like, you know, IT says. Yeah, right there on the shirt. Slogan. Yeah. Yeah. We just came from Seattle this weekend, too. So we are talking about welcome to the league moment. So it's a two-part question.

What was your welcome to the league moment? But then what was the moment where you knew I'm league? My welcome to the league moment, I got dunked on with the left hand by Mbamute. He crazy left hand dunked me on a fast break. Wait, Luke Bouchard? Luke Bouchard? And went to UCLA? Yeah, I did.

You jumped? I did. He said I did. I did jump. I did jump. And then there was another one. That was the, we were playing OKC. And it was the first play of me having Steven Adams.

They said, we ain't giving you no help. I said, all right, cool, I got it. I got this. This man bumped me right in my chest and flew me back and dunked the ball. I was like, oh, shit, all right, I got to get stronger now. But then my time where I knew, like, I was like okay I got something though was well it was after the game where I've scored

I think it was like 12 for 12 or something like that from the field 14 for 14 yeah it was that one and then we got it

we got it then I had another game where I had like I was scoring like double doubles like throughout the back but then like, double-doubles, like, throughout the bat. But then, like, the one that got me this year was when we played Denver and then we won that game.

But then I kept going throughout the whole time. And then another one with Atlanta, when we won the game in Atlanta, and I had, like, 17 rebounds or something like that. And I was like, yeah, I still got this motherfucker. I'm here. Yeah, I'm here. I remember them moments. You remember Boom Shay Boom Shay?

I said it was, so Portland was like, there was a dude named Boom Shay Boom Shay. What, Ruben Boom Shay Boom Shay? Yeah. Right, so I'm on a bench talking shit. Like we getting our ass whooped, so I'm like, oh yeah, he about to put me in, and dude's in, I'm dunking on dude, right? Yeah, for. And dude's in. I'm dunking on dude, right?

Yeah, for sure. I was like, I'm dunking on dude. I'm going to just take off on him, right? He be under there, and he's little, like skinny little. So I pushed through to him. And it's hard, kid,

when you get in there. So on a fast break, like, stole the ball. Because it was like Steve Kerr and all that. So they were slow. So they're trying to pick up full court.

So I, boom, right side, boom, and jump. Boop. And he just stood there just. Fell on my back and everything. Man, that was the most embarrassing thing. Like, oh, man, I ain't ready for this. He threw you shit? What?

Like, he just, like, it was like, it felt like I was just floating, though. Like, yeah. And he just, like, he was just sitting there just, come on. And just jumped straight up. Just pulled it with me. Boom. Like, ah. Yeah, I ain't doing that no more, man.

I'm just going to pull up jump shots. Pull up jump shots from now on. This is embarrassing. So let's just talk about big men in general. It seems like the league has kind of devalued the traditional center of what we used to think about that position 15, 20 years ago. But in your opinion, who's the most underrated big man in the NBA right now? Most underrated big man in the NBA?

I mean, excluding myself, I would say, like, that's a hard pick. Because a lot of the bigs now can shoot. That's what they want now. They want bigs that are able to shoot, you know, box shots and defend. But you got to be able to shoot. But I think a lot of, you know, a lot of the guys that I've been around have gotten really good in recognition and everything. Who do you think?

Who do you think? Shit, I just asked a question. God, man. I just asked a question. I just asked a question. I'm going to casual as the young kid said. No, I'm just kidding. I mean, you just look around.

It just seems like, and we wanted to hit on that too, kind of just the center position and what it means to be a center. Like somebody like yourself, you got to guard all three levels. Yeah. You got to be able to score at all three levels. Do you think it's fair that NBA took out for the All-Star game the position? The center position. Oh, yeah.

Do you think that was... I don't think that's fair, but it's like, I mean, what are you going to do? It's the NBA. They want to make money. Complain? I mean, yeah. I mean, I just don't like it's like, I mean, what are you going to do? It's the NBA. They want to make money. Complain? I mean, yeah. I mean, I just don't like it because history, right? It seems like it just scratched out the rest of history.

I mean, it did. It did. Like, this modern day, it's just all about guards, you know? Big men aren't the vocal point of a team anymore. But you have to figure it out by the way of, like, if you're able to shoot, can you handle, can you defend, can you do something?

What can you bring to contribute to this team and to any other team to where you don't become irrelevant, I would say. Hey, man, it's just like, I just don't like it because it seems like it just protects a generation of sinners seems like it protects a generation of sinners. It just protects a generation of sinners that the next generation moving forward can't surpass because they won't have the accolades. So now you got some of these sinners, like even sinners from the past that got five all-stars.

Well, five all-stars for any sinner today is going to be fucking hard because now he's going against power forwards that are favorites. Yeah. Right? So it's like, you know, like starting to be a starter in an All-Star game as a center is damn near impossible now. Yeah. You're going to have to

be like... But the centers back then were different. I mean, you're talking about like the 90 centers. Like, we're talking about the 90 centers, though. Like, Robinson, Patrick Hewing, like, these are... Like, we don't have that right now. But if you took

that position out, those same centers would have to go against power forwards now, too. So some of them centers wouldn't have the all-star games that they have. No matter what kind of name they are, if you add in all the wings that have to compete with them, they don't have those same accolades. But, okay, if we do put the center position in there,

I mean, how many centers are still going to make it? There's always a starter and a backup. Period. Supposed to be, anyway. Yeah, supposed to be. And center, backup, and then possibly a third. So you're going to at least have two to three. I just think it's more just guard heavy now.

Like, it's just so guard. The game is different and it's just guard heavy. So it's like. I think they're moving the all-star game into more like just like votes. Like even if you had five guards. But they won't start. They're still pulling forwards. I just feel like at some point, that's what it's going to be like.

It's not going to matter what position. Well, it's like all NBA team. There's a potential now for it to be. Just all guards? Positionless. So there's a potential now for it to be a team full of. Oh, see, no. There's no such thing as positionless.

It's not a real thing. Positionless is not a real thing. It's just big man who can do little man stuff it's never a little man who can do big man shit like let me know the day when John Morant Steph Curry

and Dane Leonard plays the five alright let me know when they can go down there and start playing the five against five men like it's just a dumbass it's just one way

it's just big man who can dribble and pass oh this is positionless basketball let me know when the guards can do big man shit. All right? I think you're missing the point. No, I'm not missing the point.

I just don't listen to fucking a bunch of players or people who go through school just renaming shit. When you talk about positionless basketball, it really means

just the movement of the ball. You don't have to stay in your position. Like, if you're a big man, you don't have to stay in the paint. Like, you can move around. Imagine the motion office, right?

Where every position moves in that same star. That's what was positionless basketball. Do they name it positionless when the motion was actually a thing? Yeah, in Europe. In Europe. I played in Europe. We played positionless basketball in Europe. A big girl can come up and set a screen for the guard atop.

She can catch it up there, also shoot it, pass it up. She doesn't have to stay in the paint. We know UCLA cut. We get it. All right? We get a UCLA cut. Y'all are disrespecting UCLA. I'm saying UCLA cut is positionless. They don't got an Arizona cut.

I'm saying the Princeton offense is positionless. Everyone touches the ball. But again, it's always going to be big man who can do little man stuff that gets the coin up positionless. It's just a five man who can guard one through five or who can bring the ball down the court. It's never the opposite, which means it's not positionless. Positionless means everyone can actually do everything. Yeah, can be anywhere. Not necessarily do.

Be anywhere. Everyone can. Show me Steph Curry in the post. Posting people up and posting up five. No. Let me see where Steph Curry is

defending the five man. Let me see where that is not happening. It happens. It's just the big doing the little man stuff. It wasn't a big man guarding me. It was a guard guarding me.

So, Thomas, for you, how hard is it to be a center in a modern game, just with all those different factors and variables in place now and being asked to do so much? For me, it's, I mean, it's difficult, of course. But, like, for me, the one thing that always stuck out with me ever since I was younger was that I could shoot, you know. And during that time when I was coming up,

they were transitioning to, like, okay, we want big, we want bigs to have a jumper now and everything. So for me, that category, like, yeah, it's tough now because bigs aren't really valued. But at least I know for myself at a young age, I was able to shoot. That I could just break. I know, like, one thing that I'm going to always be able to translate is, like, I'm going to be in the best shape of my life. I'm going to be a help side shot blocker. But I'm going to always be able to knock down like I'm just being the best shape of my life would be a help side shot blocker but I'm always be able to knock down this open three that's one thing I'm always saying you see me wide open for a three ball this motherfucker going in

but was that something that you were you know because we talk about this all the time back in the day if you were your height it was like get your ass in the post exactly don't even think about shooting three yeah yeah was he just doing your own work or was that something you were encouraged to do by coaches? That was always me. That was always me. Cause I always felt like, bro, you gotta do more than just a jump hook. Like you ain't got no little jumper there.

Like you ain't got no free throw jumper or nothing like that. Like there's going to be times where guys are going to be stronger than you. You're not going to be able to get a bump in jump hook post all the time, bro. You gotta have some skill work to it. Yeah, at least have some touch.

It's always good to always add things to your game every year anyway. You know, you don't have to come in with everything, but as the years go on, you continue to add things to your game. What was that? Who was you watching then growing up? I used to watch KG.

I used to watch Tim Duncan. Of course, LeBron, Tony Allen. You said Tony Allen? Yeah, just because he was hype. Memphis Grizzlies stuff, right? It was dogs. Jeff Green from all the times, seeing him throughout the time. And let's see, who else?

Of course LeBron, like seeing those guys. But it was mostly Tim Duncan and KG for a lot of the standpoint. I love KG because how intense he was. He was a skinny guy just like me, but always played with a great amount of energy. Didn't care what people thought about him. I'm bringing it. Every die up. Every night, I don't care if you like it or not.

Just a last question for you. What advice would you give to a young star big man coming out of high school about what it takes to be able to stick into the league now my advice would be

as a young as a young cat don't don't come in feeling like you like you're self-entitled I hate the self-entitlement from especially young kids

it's like you ain't do nothing like I mean what are you gonna do when you play against Stephan Dam and all that yeah I hate the self entitlement from especially young kids because like you ain't do nothing like I mean what are you going to do when you play against Steph and Dam and all that yeah motherfuckers see that you're going to get

dropped 40 on now you're going to get talked about on ESPN but then like I would say try and be in the best condition best shape of your life coaches hate when young guys

don't come in shape because it's like now I got to teach you this and I got to also teach you to be in shape too. I'm not trying to do that. Coaches are not trying to do that. Players are not trying to do that. Hold yourself accountable.

Be in the best shape of your life. Be a sponge. Get into the film work. Learn what you have to do. Ask your coaches, what is one thing or two things that I can bring to you that will contribute to me getting some playing time or seeing the floor playing alongside any of these guys.

Because when you're a young kid, especially a big, you're not going to get the ball like that. You're going to have to run the floor, set a pick, roll, rebound, block shots, be a great teammate, and it gradually is going to come. But you have to learn to build that confidence with your teammates at first. It's not going to be easy. There's going to be spells to where it's like you're probably not going to play.

You probably will play. Then all of a sudden you're not going to play. It's going to be like that. It's an 82-game season, man. You got to stay even-keeled through this. You can't get too high, too low about it. And if you do have a good game, don't get too high about it

because next game you can get your ass killed. And most likely what happens if you get too high about it because next game you can get your ass killed. And most likely what happens if you get too high about it because they see you, fuck is this rookie? And you made this, you did this? Nah, that ain't happening today. You become a target. Exactly. You become a target right then and there. I just remember some of those Paul Pierce, like, you know, a rookie in there sitting there getting hype. And he'd be like, who is this?

What is the name on this shirt? Yeah. Blotch. Who's Blotch? Who is this? Oh, that hurts your feelings right there. Especially if you miss a shot, too. They're like, who is this?

Hell no. Damn, that's so. Well, Tom, we appreciate you pulling up. We got a mostly fan segment. So if you want to stay for that, that's for fan-ass questions. We would love to get your opinion and perspective. For sure.

It'll take about five, ten minutes. It'll depend on how many questions. We spending $100. $100 for questions now. Hey, shit. $100? That was $50. I changed it.

We're giving the fans whoever... It's $50 as of today. Oh, my bad. But we can... You can't be... I'm going to get a nasty word of email and a phone call. Right.

Listen, I don't watch group chats. It ain't his money. I don't care what they're saying in a group chat. But let's get into our Mostly Fans segment. Presented by Underdog Fantasy. If you have not done so already, go ahead, download the app, use promo code Gills Arena. I thought it was close.

It was close. Almost. I mean, damn it mean but go ahead download underdog fantasy i've used promo code gills arena they'll match your first deposit up to 100 again for mostly fans if we use your question you put your underdog username in there you get a 50 bonus off top 50 of underdogs money not gill right i was just trying to throw an extra 50. We should put your money. You throw the 50. So question number one, this comes from Bird Jerby and his underdog name.

I don't know what that means. What was the best worst high school game everyone played? Best worst? What was the best and the worst high school? High school game? Damn. I had a triple-double once in high school. I was hype. I had 63 at Oak Hill and I came out with five minutes to go in the fourth quarter.

I was like, Steve Smith, what you doing? He was like, nah, he was like, I'm gonna make sure nobody break this record. Oh, that's- That's racism. That's hate. My, I want to say Crenshaw was mine, but it was one where I hit a... We went to triple overtime, and the first two overtimes, I hit the shot at the buzzer to get us to the next overtime. So I hit two shots to get us to overtime at the buzzer, and then hit a game-winner for the win again.

In Crenshaw? Wow. No, no, this was against a team called Crespi. winning game. In Crenshaw? Wow. No, no, this was against a team called Crespi. Oh. A team called Crespi. Derek Fisher. It was like the magic man. I only had like 30-something.

Only had like 30-something. I was averaging like 48. That wasn't a lot for you back then. That was still hard. I was averaging like 48, so it was a bad game. We used to pull the daily news out, and you know you was going to be in second if he was playing that night because he was going to have 45, 50, 53.

My worst was, shit, sitting on the bench in JV. I think my worst is, like, all-star game, ABCD camp, when Corey Fisher broke my ankles. It was just an embarrassment in New York, and, like, New York guard coming down, and he hitting you with a move. I remember Jay-Z and him sitting right there. Yeah, Jay-Z at your game? Yeah, ABCD camp.

My worst high school game. I'm not going to say worst game, but my freshman year of high school, I should have been on varsity, probably backup point guard, but they started me on the freshman team because no one was going to the games and nobody could actually score the basketball. And they begged me to stay on the freshman team. There was games where I was the only person that scored on my whole team.

I hated the whole season. And we played outside. We didn't even play in the gym. We played all our games outside. I was so mad. What was this, 1950? What year was this? He said 1950.

Outside. I'm just... It was year was this? He said 1950. It was 89. I was just born. 1989. Just came out the womb. I didn't want to call you old. I'm just saying, damn. Playing basketball outside, I had to be an old topical.

The girls' freshman team, we played outside. I was upset. I had a crazy year, but it was whack. We lost all the games. I still scored a lot, but I was so upset. And then the next year I started on varsity at the point. They didn't put you on JV? No, I refused. I shouldn't have been there from the beginning.

No, right to starting on varsity, sophomore year. Thomas, how about yourself? Mine, I had 41, and I only made like one three. And I was like, it was just talking shit and everything and i'm just like bro i'm really about to kill y'all i was like do you understand i was like i had eight points at the end of first quarter like oh you can't do that i'm like i really think y'all can guard me so i had like i went off for like 13 straight. I'm just talking, I'm just talking to the guys on the bench. I'm just like, yo, you can't guard me. You can't fuck me. You can't fuck me. Your man's out here can't mess with me. You're going to need some help. Ended up having 41 with like four or

five minutes left in the fourth. I just sucked myself up. We won the game by like 27. I'm like, bro, you can't mess with me. And there was another one where... Go for the 50. I wanted to. I was like, bro, I'm done. Get me up out of here, right? But that's not... Once you get the comfort of the over the 40, though, too,

that is a 39 that you got to stay in. Then I had a triple overtime game at AAU against Speece. And it was like towards the end of the fourth where I had like 15 straight. Because the whole time I'm telling coach like, bro, just pass me the ball. Pass me the ball. So I was just like, you know what? I'm just, my ball was still mad at me to this day. I'm cussing all out on the floor and everything.

I'm like, these motherfuckers ain't going to pass me the ball. I ain't betting. I got it. I'll do it myself. I'm shooting the ball motherfuckers ain't gonna pass me the ball. I ain't betting, I got it. I'll do it myself. I'm shooting the ball, and every time I get it, it's going in, I'm getting rebounds. I got one where I pushed it up, shot a three, made it. Finesse one, went under and under, and ended up winning.

Ended up winning the game, and I had to go to the hospital that night. Man. Yeah. What happened? There was something wrong with my stomach. I think I almost had to get my appendix pulled that night. And they wanted me to stop after the second OT. But I'm like, nah, bro, I'm about to win this game.

We about to win this game. Should have labeled that one right there. That was a good one. What was your worst? I mean, in high school, I didn't really have a worst. No weaknesses. Let's move on. Question number two is for underdog username.

Gil, you'll appreciate this. Blue duck, but D-U-C-C. Why would I appreciate that? You're all blue, Gil. Oh, forgot. You already know. I forgot. Carrillo?

Gil's arena. Arena. I forgot. Gil's carina. If you could have played another sport professionally, what would it be? Can I go first? Tennis. Tennis.

I actually feel like I probably would have chosen tennis as a professional sport had I been introduced to it much younger. I feel like a one-on-one game for me. I feel like I would have accomplished more. I would have got way more done made made more money Like now I've been playing 13 years and I'm I'm dogging people right now and but it's too late I can't go pro, you know I'm saying but I would have definitely played tennis easy She's a golf I'm just saying, look at you. You just beat me up. You just beat me up. I'm just saying, look at you.

You just beat me up. I can't stand you. I just got my first birdie yesterday, too. He hate me. He is a hater. There's still a question in that one. Oh, God. How about yourself?

I would originally say football. But I remember at 12 how, when I got hit, how that felt. So, yeah, you know, it was much harder on the next level. So I would just say run track. Okay. You're a runner, you're a track star. Yeah. Okay.

I'm definitely going football. What position? Did you play? What position? Yeah, wide receiver or safety. Nah, safety. Nah, BJ. Why?

Don't do that to yourself. I can catch. No. Safety is a defensive player that tackles the running back. That means you have to really. The running back. The running back. I'm in the back.

I know. I'm in the back. I'm the safety. Safety is also the person responsible for the running back. I cover football. I'm the safety. Safety is also the person responsible for the running back. I cover football. Stop playing with me. Safety, you have to really lose your mind and really be out there ready to die for this shit. That's a man-to-man coverage right here.

It don't even matter. Who? Me? I mean, her husband's a football player, so I'm pretty sure it's she. I covered football for 14 years. Safety covers the running back. The safety is the assistant for the DBs, but your main number one position is to watch the running back.

If they don't run the ball, then you become a coverage person. Well, yeah. Yeah. But I'm still on defense. I want to be on defense. When I got hit, I was going to join the band. Boom! Yeah! I could be out here at halftime.

Shit. PB, any other sports you play professionally? I wouldn't say professionally. The other one I was really good at was just football. My brother was a pro at baseball. Okay. What position in football? Tight end.

Tight end and defensive back. That fits. I would say just put your big ass in to block field goals. I've always had this vision, like ball, ball, win, beat, just straight field goal block. OD for sure.

Jump up. Taco fall, just jump your big ass up and block this. You have to be on that line with those other big people and there's a strategy that they will knock you

to the ground. Put somebody in front of his big leg. The chat says 100% she's right. What? On my what? The safety? The safety.

14 years I've been covering football. We got a football player, Trevor. I should know what I'm doing. Is that the USC strategy? You said you was wrong. You did. It's a pass, man. Say again? Yes. It's a pass.

Yes. Yes. No. No. Going out. I said they're the backup for the secondary. They're in the secondary. They're backup for the corners if there's a pass.

But when the ball is hiked, the safety's first number one position is the running back. If the running back runs in motion, most times the safety has to move as well. Not my sport, so I don't. But the chat's saying I'm right? Chat's saying you're right. A lot of people in chat. All right, so last question.

This comes from Underdog Username, BMAC32. He said, need that 50, Josiah. So first player to cross you or dunk on you in the league? Gil, you go first. Cross you or dunk on you. You don't have to say both. Whatever one you feel more comfortable with that. We can't Google search and run on an upcoming episode i mean when i listen um there was a guard

i mean the most embarrassing one was a guard in toronto big guard and he did some awkward ass move didn't even dribble like he did uh pinch and did, you know how like you jab here? He jabbed across his body here and here and I don't know what happened and dropped. He lost you? Oh yeah, I dropped. Like he didn't even just, uh, uh, uh. And I grabbed his leg and everything, bro. Foul, man.

I don't know what this was, but he got me. But yeah, that was my most embarrassing one. Derrick Rose? How he get you? Yeah, we got that on film, I think got me. But yeah, that was my most embarrassing one. Derrick Rose? How he get you? Yeah, we got that on film, I think. Oh. We said there's a highlight. We got that in the highlight.

Probably, yeah. He spent me all the way around. No, yeah, he got spent. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, he got me bad. Yeah, he got me bad. Derrick Rose, for sure. I got.

That was your. You ain't falling in? No, I ain't falling, but I was like going all the way. No, no, so you ain't never fell in NBA? In the league? No, I don't think so. Oh, then I. I don't think so. I don't think so.

You sure? Because you know the chat. I mean, they probably look it up. I mean, but I think the Derrick Rose one was bad. Yeah, that was a bad one. Like, he, I was going way over here. He went that way. I was like, damn.

Oh, that was that. Yeah, that was that. I wasn't really getting crossed like that, but only persons ever dunked on me was my college boyfriend. He dunked on me. I broke up with his ass. We were just playing around. That's the only time I've ever been dunked on.

That's a bad feeling. I don't know how y'all just let that. A little bit of basketball got you dunked on. You wasn't going through his phone. He dunked on me, and I fell. I fell. Like, I almost hurt myself, too. I was pissed. How do y'all let, like, that brought a rage out of me,

so I couldn't imagine if girls was dunking like that, and that was happening to me on the regular. I would be pissed. Like, that's, like you. You probably get dunked on. You dunk on people. It's like nothing, right? I mean, yeah, I'd rather get dunked on than touch earth.

I'm not going to lie to you. Has anybody ever crossed you? You already said the dunk. I had one when I was in Washington. I had an actually great defensive. I was locking shit up, but it was like we needed to stop. I'm like, he got me. Slapped the ground? No, I didn't slap the ground, but I'm like, I got it, I got it.

I guarded him before. He came got me. Slapped the ground? No, I ain't slapped the ground, but I'm like, I got it. I got it. You know, I guarded him before. He came with me. He sized me up, hit me with a hezi, and then snatched the hell out of me. And then shot it. It was like, got it, before he even went in. He was on the ground? Who was that? No, I was like, oh, shit.

And I contested. Game over. For the win? Who was it? It wasn't even for the win. It was just like, we need to stop. If we would have got to stop, we had a chance to tie or take the lead. Hell no. Who was it?

I think it was Darren Collison or something like that. He played for the Pacers. It was just something. He just... Darren Collison had that? Snatch me! He had like a different game. His game was... And all you could hear

was like, oh, that's the worst feeling. Yeah, that's the worst feeling right there. You start looking like, okay.

Bet, bet, bet. Oh, okay, bet, bet, bet.

I'll put prices on all you. Count your days. Next time we play, y'all. Damn. So Thomas, you got a camp that you got coming up soon.

So you pulled up on us. Now you can go ahead and promote it to our millions and millions minus millions of of Gills Arena fans far near and wide. Yes, I'm having a free

basketball camp for the kids back in Rochester, New York where I'm from just to give back to my community. And it's just like, you know, little things

like that. I've always got so hyped just to meet like minor league people. And it's just like, you know, little things like that. I've always got so hyped just to meet like minor league people. So it's just like giving back to my community in that shape, way, and form, like any way in that aspect means a lot to me. You know, just spending time with the kids and let them see a face that's actually from the area to say like, yo, there's a, there's, there's somebody that made it out of here. It doesn't have to be in all like athletics or anything like that. Like, but there's a way. I mean, for me, I'm the first person to really get out of Rochester, New York.

Nobody's ever seen anybody do anything big like that. So I take that with a, with a big accountability and I take that with pride. And then like, for me, just doing that, also, I'm also trying to do this backpack drive with the kids, you know, from like, kids that don't have the means of like, getting stuff for back to school stuff, back to school, all right, come on, let's go get your stuff.

Let's make sure you straight for the school. You ain't got a book bag? All right, bet, let's go get, let's get you a book bag. Even if the kid don't got no shoes, I remember, I got so many shoes at home to where I hit up one of the guys. I'm like, yo, you got any people that need some shoes back there? You know, wear this size and everything. Hell yeah, bro.

What size you wear? 14, 15. Well, shit, you know, I wear a 14, 15 too. And I'm going to be honest. You know, Gil don't really pay like that. So, you know, I'm just going to be real. If you want to divert some before you get about to Rochester.

No, I'm just kidding. When is that basketball camp though? It's towards the end of the month. 24th and 25th of this month. So if you're in Rochester and you like free shit, August 24th, August 25th, Thomas Bryant doing a free camp

for the community pull-up, where can they get more information on it? Absolutely. Thank you. On your IG, August 24th, August 25th, Thomas Bryant doing a free camp for the community pull-up. Where can they get more information on it? Absolutely. Thank you. On your IG, where can they find out? Oh, I'll be posting it today or tomorrow. If you check out my Instagram, it'll be an actual post and I'll put the link to sign up

for the camp in my bio. So link in bio. Should everybody from New York just show up? For real. It's free. Yeah, it's free. Free 99. If you need a free backpack, too. Free COVID shots and bio. Should everybody from New York just show up? For real. It's free. Yeah, it's free. $3.99. They need a free backpack, too.

Free COVID shots and cheese. They better bring their ass down there and get some backpacks and some skills. Just being honest, right? Something that can help you in life. Exactly. Yo, this shit gets to that cheese. Where did the cheese come from?

You just keeping it real. Well, Thomas, we appreciate you pulling up, man. Best of luck to you in Miami this season. Thank you for coming into the arena. We're going to be watching you. You know, when you come play the Lakers, though, you know, we can't really fuck with you, unfortunately. That's all good.

We got you. We want you to perform. I understand it. We want you to perform, but want the Lakers on. No, no, no. You got him. He's going to be right with you all year. Confidence coffee.

Yeah, he's going to be right with you all year. He's going to be right with you all year. Confidence coffee. Yeah, he going to be right with you all year. He going to be right with you all year. Confidence coffee. I know what you can do. Don't even worry. Look, look, look.

He can't wait. Don't even worry. The coffee is flowing. He can't wait. He can't wait. Don't even worry. This has been another episode of Gills Arena.

We appreciate you, everybody in the chat. We appreciate you, the underdog fantasy. Whoa, whoa. We'll be back tomorrow, Wednesday. See y'all then. Yes. Whoa, whoa. We'll be back tomorrow, Wednesday. See y'all then.

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